September 2011
Mission Report: Pré-APOLOBIS
05.09.2011
Fig. 1 Alaria esculenta.
Fig. 2 Ready-to-go rack with Alaria sporophytes folded to avoid dessication
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. 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. 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.
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
August 2011
04.08.2011
A delegation from the People's Republic of China at AWIPEV
Mr. Xu Shaoshi, Hon. Minister of Ministry of Land Resources , Mr. Liu Cigui, Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Dr. Zhang, Director-General of the International Cooperation, H.E. Ambassador in Norway Tang Guoqiang and other representatives of the People's Republic of China took a guided tour of the AWIPEV station. Mr. Xu Shaoshi participated as well in the launch of the ozone balloon and visited the NDACC observatory. He spent times with us talking about our mission, our wintering, and appeared impressed by our dedicated work and passion for the arctic environment. To express his gratitude to everyone contributing to making the visit of the delegation a big success, Mr. Xu Shaoshi kindly invited all station managers and all AWIPEV staff to a nice reception.
From left to right, Mr. Tang Guoqiang, Mr. Xu Shaoshi, Mr. Denkmann Rudolf, Mr. Liu Cigui.
Mr. Xu Shaoshi helping to the ozone balloon launch.
Our observatory engineer, Andrea Groß, receiving
a gift from the Minister Mr. Xu Shaosh