Latest news from the AWIPEV joint French-German Arctic Research Base
January 2012
Safety Course Longyearbyen
The entire AWIPEV station crew including our French and German logistic coordinators participated from 09. until 14. January 2012 on the UNIS safety course in Longyearbyen. During the course, several topics were explained and also trained.
The main focus of the course was to improve the knowledge about dangers in glaciers (cravasses), formation of sea ice and the safe crossing with scooters, search and rescue after an avalanche, first-aid in the Arctic, build-up of an emergency camp (including mounting of a trip wire for polar bear protection), navigation with map and GPS as well as the safe handling of rifles and a shooting training.
The course ended with a practical training at real conditions outside over several hours on saturday on the Longyearbreen and with a final exam in the afternoon.
building up an emergency tent within 5 minutes. Photo: Nicolas Geyskens
Shooting training. Photo: Nicolas Geyskens
knots and the technique of roping for glacier rescue.
Photo: Nicolas Geyskens
how to get out of water with a scooter dress... Photo: Nicolas Geyskens
October 2011
Svalbard Science Forum announces Arctic Field Grant
The Arctic Field Grant for 2012 is now open for applications. The deadline is November 20th 2011 at 16.00
This year, for the first time, the grant is open to applicants from non-Norwegian institutions (in cooperation with a Norwegian institution). The Arctic Field grant is a great opportunity for students and researchers alike who aim to do fieldwork in Svalbard. See more details and apply online at:
September 2011
05.09.2011
Biology of Arctic Benthic Algae - KOL06
Subproject: The role of seaweeds in the food web of Kongsfjorden (Cornelia Buchholz)
Photos: Cornelia Buchholz
In 2010 tissue gain and loss of Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata was assessed over one month on algae tethered to a rack and floating in the water column at 4 m depth. The data on length increase and tissue loss are new for Arctic Phaeophyceae. The growth data on Alaria were completed in 2011 by an additional experiment based on the evaluation of 2010 findings.
Fig. 1 Alaria esculenta.
Fig. 2 Ready-to-go rack with Alaria sporophytes folded to avoid dessication
Fig. 3 Rack in water 4 m below the floaters.
Fig.4 Spread basis of Alaria with punched holes originally perpendicular to the midrib and of identical size; distances to midrib and relative positions have changed within 16 days on the rack and can be measured.
Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata as POM (Particulate Organic Matter)
Only a part of the huge biomass produced every year by brown macroalgae enters the food web directly, e.g. in being consumed by sea urchins as is the case at Kongsfjordneset. We assume that the larger amount is first degraded to small particles that loose substances (leaching) and gain epibionts like other small algae, small animals like single cell protozoans or multicellular organisms, and certainly bacteria that use the algal surface as a substrate. These particles, experimentally produced in a blender (Fig.5), eventually form “marine snow” that is used as food source by suspected but still uncertain consumers like suspension feeders and detritivores. Experiments in the laboratory require sturdy animals that sustain laboratory conditions. In the 2011 campaign mysids (Fig. 6) were identified as possible candidates for further experiments.
Fig. 5a,b Microscopically small particles of Alaria esculenta maintained to age in glass containers
Fig.6 Mysis oculata
Retrieving a rack with algae. Photo: Ines Stuhldreier
| Building | Office | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Blue House | Base Leader | -6860 |
| Blue House FAX | -6869 | |
| Rabot | Logistics Engineer | -6870 |
| Rabot FAX | -6879 | |
| Observatory | Observatory Engineer | -6880 |
| Observatory FAX | -6889 |