Arctic Frontiers Science 2017

ABSTRACTS

Chris S. Emblow and Katrin Bluhm Editors

Emblow, C.S. and Bluhm, K. (eds.) 2017. Arctic Frontiers Science 2017 – Abstracts. Tromsø, Norway.

Arctic Frontiers

Available from: www.arcticfrontiers.com

ISBN 978‐82‐690420‐1‐6

Arctic Frontiers 2017 1 | Page

Table of Contents

About Arctic Frontiers 2017 ...... 3 Conference partners ...... 4 Introduction ...... 5 Bridging physical and biological processes...... 5 Pushing back the Frontiers ...... 6 Future Fisheries ...... 7 Managing risk in policymaking and law...... 8 Oral presentations ...... 10 Bridging physical and biological processes...... 10 Pushing back the Frontiers ...... 52 Future Fisheries ...... 86 Managing risk in policymaking and law...... 99 Poster presentations ...... 114 Index of presenters ...... 196

Arctic Frontiers 2017 2 | Page About Arctic Frontiers 2017

About Arctic Frontiers 2017 The ocean carries vast resources, many of which are undeveloped and undiscovered. There are still many poorly known places on the Arctic map, and we know more about the surface of moon than the oceans. As the climate gets warmer, new areas of ocean in the Arctic are becoming accessible. This has resulted in an increased attention from scientists, businesses and states. Arctic Frontiers 2017 will discuss the gaps in our knowledge about the Arctic oceans and the role these will play in the future.

The key questions to be asked were:

What do we know about the processes taking place under the ice and the impact of the polar night on Arctic ecosystems? Changes occur in the Arctic ecosystems, how much of it is natural. As the arctic productivity alters, new species establish, existing species change their geographical extent, creating opportunities for new fishing grounds. How do these processes alter the dynamics of fisheries? With new areas becoming accessible, how do we assess, manage and mitigate risk? How can technology be a driver for arctic business development? With new areas to operate in, how do people connect?

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Conference partners Senior partners

Partners

Associated partners

Friends of the conference

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Introduction Arctic Frontiers Science 2017 addressed four main themes. Bridging physical and biological processes Inflow‐shelves, gateways and shelf‐break regions of the Arctic Ocean, are in a state of transition. Major changes in the physical environment cause responses on biogeochemical‐ and ecosystem levels. Altered hydrography and sea ice conditions and changed timing of seasonal changes already influence productivity patterns and pathways, ecosystem structure and function, and biogeochemical cycling.

To project future Arctic productivity and ecosystems responses, we need to understand how physical conditions evolve, the relation to biogeochemical cycling, biological communities, and their interactions. Our understanding is limited by lack of sufficient insight into microbial and lower trophic food webs, their impact on and response from higher trophic levels, and by the relatively sparse observational datasets. Arctic Ocean gateways link the Arctic to lower latitudes, and thus represent key sites to study responses to current changes and how advection impact Arctic Ocean food webs.

This session aims to synthesize knowledge to facilitate synergy from recent investigations. This will increase our understanding of how climate change impact present and future productivity, fate of production, seasonality and communities in the Arctic marine gateway regions including the ecosystem service they provide.

The Arctic Frontiers 2017 session on Bridging Physical and Biological Processes aims to integrate these important aspects of Arctic marine systems by inviting abstracts on the following themes:

 Physical processes in the Arctic Ocean and their impact on hydrography, biology and biogeochemistry  Feedback processes, including ecosystem processes affecting the physical system  Productivity and the fate of primary production  Biogeochemical, biological and ecosystem responses in a changing Arctic  Observations, experimental‐ and modelling studies on Arctic inflow‐ and shelf break oceanography, ice cover, productivity and ecosystems  Lower trophic level communities and interactions  Coupling between sub‐Arctic and higher latitude oceans and marine systems  Sea Ice Ecology and coupling to pelagic and benthic systems  Productivity regimes and impact in the new Arctic Ocean Scientific committee members:  Prof. Marit Reigstad; UiT The Arctic University of Norway  Prof. Aud Larsen; UniResearch, Norway  Dr Christian Wexels Riser; Research Council of Norway  Dr Monika Kedra; Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences  Dr Christine Michel; Fisheries and Oceans Canada  Prof. Lars Henrik Smedsrud; University of Bergen, Norway  Christine Dybwad; (UiT, Norway) secretary

The session was organized by the research projects CarbonBridge (NFR), MicroPolar (NFR) and Arctic in Rapid Transition (IASC), but is open to all relevant contributions.

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Pushing back the Frontiers For decades, the majority of Arctic marine research was performed from spring to autumn, and limited to field stations and areas accessible by ship. Results from these studies have been used to develop the paradigms used to understand Arctic marine ecosystems operate. In recent years, however, it has become clear that the Arctic is highly heterogeneous and findings from one area may not be applicable to other areas. Further, processes taking place under the ice, or at times without sunlight, times from which little data exist, may profoundly shape how ecosystem functioning. All this has led to many paradigms being challenged or refined in ways that change how we view the Arctic in this period of climatic change. This session will highlight the insights gained from recent research that has:

 Studied ecosystems during the polar night. The Polar night can no longer be viewed as a time when most of the Arctic ecosystem is dormant, but how newly discovered processes affect ecosystem functioning is largely still unknown.  Investigated poorly known locations in the Arctic. The under‐ice community of the central Arctic can be far more productive than previously thought. Blooms within and under the ice can nourish pelagic and benthic food webs, but how these blooms are generated and sustained, and how they may change in a warmer Arctic is still under investigation.  Deployed technology and models to obtain a broader view of the Arctic. Robotics and mooring networks make virtually all areas of the Arctic accessible at appropriate observational scales. In addition, complex ecosystem models are the only method to link field and laboratory studies to view systems at regional and pan‐Arctic scales.  Combined disciplines in unique ways to obtain a more integrated picture of Arctic ecosystems. Creative approaches bring us closer than ever to identifying mechanisms behind the patterns we observe. Behavioural, physiological, and molecular studies provide insight into community dynamics and processes. In addition, disciplines such as glaciology, geology, and atmospheric chemistry allow a more integrated view of ecosystem processes and trajectories of change. We welcomed abstracts from studies where frontiers have been crossed through such new approaches to test current paradigms, develop new conceptual models, and fill in the 'white spaces' on our maps of Arctic ecosystems. Scientific committee members:  Prof. Paul E. Renaud; Akvaplan‐niva, and University Centre in Svalbard  Prof. Antje Boetius; Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute for Polar and Marine Research  Dr Finlo Cottier; Scottish Association for Marine Science, and UiT The Arctic University of Norway  Prof. Torkel Gissel Nielsen; Technical University of Denmark, and Greenland Climate Research Centre  Prof. Jan Marcin Węsławski; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences  Maxime Geoffroy (UiT, Norway) secretary

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Future Fisheries The future Arctic is expected to be warmer and less icy, opening possibilities for existing species to change their geographical extent and for new species to establish. This also creates opportunities for new fishing grounds to be harvested. International markets stimulate exploitation of resources that can be consumed very far from their Arctic origin or for species at low trophic levels that have not been exploited previously. In parallel, populations of large marine mammals are anticipated to increase, as a result of international conservation measures, with indirect impacts on fisheries dynamics. These changes are anticipated to lead to major reconfiguration of the arctic ecosystems, exploitation patterns and conservation priorities. This theme session will address this general theme through three specific sub‐sessions, each provided with one invited keynote speaker.

Sub session 1 – Future harvestable resources: which, where and how much?

There is noticeable evidence that numerous marine species are already moving northward as a result of ocean warming. Species displacement is partly controlled by temperature but other factors such has bottom habitat types, light regime, seasonal ice cover, density dependent habitat selection and interspecific interactions can modulate or even counter the effects of warming. For this reason, anticipating the future distribution and abundance of harvestable resources in the Arctic and sub‐ Arctic remains challenging. In addition to species exploited by traditional fisheries, new resources at low trophic levels or with market opportunities in regions far from the Arctic are emerging. This session will address the specific issue of the mechanisms controlling the distribution of traditional harvestable resources, the emergence of new potential resources, and how the availability of these resources may change in the future.

Sub session 2 – Fisheries adaptation: reaction or anticipation?

The abundance and composition of harvestable resources within an ecosystem are naturally fluctuating. Fisheries management and regulations, such as harvest control rules, can ensure some degree of stability and predictability for the fishing industry in the short term. On the other hand, large amplitude variations in resource abundance, geographical distribution and species composition over longer periods of time are rarely explicitly considered in management plans. Paralleled to these changes, technological developments create opportunities for more efficient exploitation of valuable living marine resources of for the exploitation of new ones. This session will address the specific issue of how fisheries prepare for anticipated future changes in resource availability. How do managers and fishers adapt to changes in resource availability as they happen and what is their capacity to anticipate such changes over longer periods of time?

Sub session 3 – Top predators: growing numbers, growing pressure or resources?

The community of Arctic top predators will see drastic changes in the future, due to climate and related changes, with synergist or antagonist effects. Some populations, especially ice‐dependant species, might be declining or retreating, while other species may be blooming and new species appear. In parallel, conservation efforts favour in increase of some marine mammal and bird populations. The dynamic of the Arctic food chain will change, as a result of different predation pressures, but also different exploitation pressures. Predicting the potential increase/decrease in top predator populations and their geographical redistribution is essential in predicting changes in ecosystem services and the possible new balance between provisioning (food resources through fishing, sealing and whaling) and cultural (recreation, artistic inspiration, education) services. A new dynamic may also emerge in the competition for the territorial use of the ocean, in particular in coastal areas.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 7 | Page Introduction

This session will address anticipated increase/decrease in marine mammal and bird populations and their impact on fisheries through predation pressure, fisheries/conservation balance (by‐catch and responsible fishing) and fisheries/tourism interests. Is there a place for sustainable exploitation and balanced fishing? Scientific committee members:  Dr Benjamin Planque, Institute of Marine Research, Norway  Prof. Mark Dickey‐Collas; International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Denmark  Thorsteinn Sigurdsson, Marine Research Institute, Iceland  Dr Mette Skern‐Mauritzen; Institute of Marine Research, Norway  Geneviève Desportes; North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO), Norway  Ragni Olssøn; (Institute of Marine Research, Norway) secretary

Managing risk in policymaking and law It is difficult to develop sound policies and good laws even when the facts and future developments, including the consequences of alternative actions, are relatively clear. Much more frequently, however, uncertainties abound on factual matters as well as on future trajectories. This is certainly the case for the Arctic Ocean. This part of the Science Program invites papers that examine the methods for assessing risk, the principles for approaching risk, as well as the institutional mechanisms stakeholders can use when seeking to influence risk management in the making of policy and the development of law. Topics may include the following:

 Assessment: Risk is a probability for an undesired event, multiplied with the amount of harm caused by the event. However, the assessment of such risks is rather complicated. The tolerance for different risks varies between persons, and the risk aversion may greater in respect of spectacular incidents than the less spectacular. In policymaking and the law, there is a need for tools to assess risks in a meaningful way, both the singular risks and the total risks of an activity.  The environmental area has provided fertile ground for developing methods for risk assessment but the scope of interest is much broader. Depending on perspective, the focus may rest on risks to human lives or to human cultures, the risk of being observed and subjected to criminal sanctions, or on various kinds of political risk. Although so far less developed and standardized than in the environmental context, such risks must be identified and managed in the making of policy and law.  A prominent example is the risk of losing a recognized position, such as a property right or indigenous people’s rights. One way to handle it is substitute new, less risk exposed, rights for the threatened rights. For instance, if activities such as oil exploitation pose a risk to the way of life for a group of indigenous peoples, then they could get a share in the activity as a sort of compensation. We invite a discussion on such mechanisms and similar mechanisms, including a discussion on rights that may be threatened by new activities.  Principles: The precautionary principle in environmental law and policy is an example of how to manage uncertainties in respect of possible environmental harm. However, there is a difference between taking some precautions and taking no risks at all. In addition, even under the precautionary principle, threats to the environment must be identified and established with some certainty in order to be taken into account. So how much help is really the precautionary principle? Is a zero emission vision realistic?

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 The polluter pays principle represents another approach. The idea is that activity that causes environmental harm should pay for the clean‐up and perhaps more, so that the cost of pollution is internalized in the accounts of the activity in order to motivate for preventive measures. But are such remedies effective for this purpose, and why do they differ so much in the Arctic jurisdictions?  The no harm principle provides that no state should cause harm on the territory of another state. But how does this work in relation to activities that do not cause harm, but have the potential to do so? One example could be oil exploitation in one sector of the Arctic on conditions that neighbouring states do not find safe.  Institutional mechanisms: A mechanism closely related to liability is insurance. On the one hand, insurance warrants that compensation will be paid when due. This implies that insurance should be mandatory, even to a greater degree than what is the case in the Arctic today. On the other hand, insurance mitigates the exposure for environmental liability, and therefore the effect of the polluter pays principle. This implies that there should be no insurance. How could insurance best be utilized as a risk management tool?  A more specific institution is the Arctic Council, with its 20‐year history of assessing and responding to a wide range of Arctic risks. How effective is this body in identifying and mitigating risks? Is there room for improving its internal structure or its engagement with other institutions that capable of influencing the making of policies and laws applicable in the Arctic?  Related to the Arctic Council is the process of developing stronger agreements on Arctic scientific cooperation. What are the dilemmas and contented issues in this process, and how will the Arctic science agreement influence the basis for risk assessment and mitigation?  Area protection is another dynamic area in Arctic risk management, one that also connects to UN‐level negotiations on biodiversity protection beyond national jurisdiction.  The environmental basis for future fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, outside the 200‐mile zones of the coastal states, is the subject of another part of the Science Program but also highly relevant for the management of risks to Arctic marine stocks and their associated ecosystems.

In the Arctic, there are many activities and choices that may be risk relevant. In this session, the focus is risk analysis rather than examples of risk relevant activities. However, examples are encouraged. Scientific committee members:  Prof. Erik Røsæg, University of Oslo, Norway  Prof. Rasmus Berthelsen, University of Tromsø, Norway  Prof. Michael Byers, University of British Columbia, Canada  Prof. Timo Koivurova, University of Lapland, Finland  Prof. Per Selle; University of Bergen, Norway  Prof. Olav Schram Stokke, University of Oslo, Norway  Prof. Erik Franckx, Vrije University, Brussel, Belgium  Irina Fodchenko, (University of Oslo, Norway) secretary

Arctic Frontiers 2017 9 | Page Oral presentations

Oral presentations Bridging physical and biological processes Molecular diversity of copepod Calanus glacialis and Calanus finmarchicus: genetic population structure in Kara Sea.

Galina Abyzova, Alexandra Stupnikova

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Russia

Copepods are important in the arctic zooplankton community, considered to be the most abundant group in marine ecosystems. They play key role in the food web, connecting primary productivity of phytoplankton to higher trophic levels.

Kara Sea is a shallow water body receiving the largest freshwater river flows in the Arctic basin. The pelagic ecosystem of that sea plays great role in the transformation of the river discharge. One hundred and fifty six samples were collected from several locations in the different biotopes of Kara Sea during the R/V Professor Shtokman and Akademik Mstislav Keldysh cruises in 2011‐2013.

In the present research, phylogenetic studies have been conducted on the mass copepod species, arctic Calanus glacialis and subarctic Calanus finmarchicus, although morphologically very similar, these sibling species have different life cycles and roles in the arctic pelagic marine ecosystem. Many publications show the differences in size between these two similar species, but also there is evidence of overlap prosoma sizes. We conducted a study of the differences between Calanus glacialis and Calanus finmarchicus in the Kara Sea. The genetic diversity of Calanus species was analysed by sequencing the 350 base‐pair fragment of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and six micro‐satellite loci, using to detect potential hybrids and population structure. This study investigates the differences in population structure, depending on hydrological conditions, the effect of the flow of the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea to the Kara Sea and the occurrence of isolation of populations under the influence of hydrophysical barriers.

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Leads in Arctic pack ice enable early phytoplankton blooms below snow‐covered sea ice

Philipp Assmy 1, Mar Fernández‐Méndez 1, Pedro Duarte 1, Christopher J. Mundy 2, Lasse M. Olsen 1, Hanna Kauko 1, Haakon Hop 3, Amelie Meyer 1, Anja Roesel 1, Polona Itkin 1, Harald Steen 1, Mats A. Granskog 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2University of Manitoba, Canada, 3Norwegian Polar Institute and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Phytoplankton blooms can develop early in the season below the snow‐covered ice pack, as recently shown by our unique, one‐month time‐series from the high Arctic obtained during the Norwegian young sea ICE expedition (N‐ICE2015). Previous observations on under‐ice blooms were made later in summer and at lower latitudes during the melt season when the sea ice was snow‐free and covered by melt ponds, hence more transparent. We identified leads (large openings with open water or covered by thin young ice) in the ice pack as the main conduit of added sunlight necessary to initiate and sustain the bloom. As the Arctic ice pack is thinning and becoming more dynamic, leads are more likely to form, facilitating under‐ice blooms earlier in the season before the main snow and ice melt‐onset. Furthermore, under‐ice blooms during the melt season were dominated by diatoms while the under‐ice bloom we observed was dominated by the haptophyte algae Phaeocystis pouchetii. Nutrient consumption by early P. pouchetii blooms under snow‐covered sea ice will likely constrain blooms of diatoms and other phytoplankton taxa later in the season with possible repercussions for the strength of the biological carbon pump and energy transfer in Arctic marine food webs.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 11 | Page Oral presentations

Arctic warming affects kelp forest with associated fauna in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Inka Bartsch 1, Martin Paar 2, Stein Fredriksen 3, Haakon Hop 4, Ragnhild Asmus 2, Harald Asmus 2, Katharina Zacher 5, Kai Bischof 6, Christian Wiencke 1

1Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute Helmholtz‐Center for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany, 2Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute Helmholtz‐ Center for Polar and Marine Research, Hafenstraße 43, 25992 List/Sylt, Germany, 3University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N‐0316 Oslo, Norway, 44Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N‐9296 Tromsø, Norway, 5Alfred‐Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany, 6Marine Botany, Faculty Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobenerstr. NW2, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Our interdisciplinary, long‐term project on Arctic benthic macroalgae revealed considerable change of shallow water benthic ecosystems as a consequence of environmental changes. At our Arctic study site at Hansneset, Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, we repeated a quantitative diving study of 1996/98 in 2012‐2014 in the shallow rocky sublittoral from 0‐15 m depth. The overall seaweed biomass had increased 1.7× and 4.7× at shallow depths (2.5 m), which supported predictions of increased productivity in the Arctic because of climate warming. The standing stock at the biomass maximum at 2.5 m comprised 14.4 kg fresh biomass m‐2, a leaf area index (leaf area/sampling area) of approx. 10 and a very high kelp density. Here, the kelp composition included four species, with pronounced dominance of digitate kelp species (Laminaria digitata and/or Saccharina nigripes). Our study showed 1) uplift of kelp biomass maximum from 5 m to 2.5 m depth, 2) decrease in the lower depth limit of dominant brown algae by several m, 3) decrease in biomass of annual species, 4) considerable increase in richness from 20 to 45 species in the intertidal to shallow sublittoral (1 m depth). With respect to the associated fauna, both biomass and production increased, particularly in the shallow sublittoral (2.5‐5 m), and a functional change towards the dominance of suspension feeders became apparent. These observed changes are likely a consequence of recent Arctic warming. Lack of land fast sea ice and ice scouring during winter would reduce physical abrasion and improve irradiance conditions. However, in summer increased sedimentation with reduced phases of clear water conditions has the opposite effect by reducing the radiance and causing less light to reach the deepest part of the kelp beds. Sedimentation had revealed a negative impact on germination and formation of juvenile kelp sporophytes. Moderate grazing could partly counteract the negative effect of sedimentation but not under complete sediment coverage of the recruits (~1 mm thickness). Arctic warming, with increased temperature, less sea ice, but increased sedimentation may cause species‐specific differences in kelp sporophyte recruitment, which may lead to “winner” and “looser” species in the kelp forest in Svalbard.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 12 | Page Oral presentations

Seasonal variation in transport of zooplankton into the Arctic Ocean through the Fram strait

Sünnje Linnéa Basedow 1, Arild Sundfjord 2, Ksenia Kosobokova 3, Marit Reigstad 1

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 3Instiute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

The inflow of Atlantic Water (AW) into the Arctic Ocean (AO) is the main mediator of climate change in the Arctic marine ecosystem. Through the inflow of AW, changes in temperature and ecosystem structure at lower latitudes are channelled into the AO and impact productivity and carbon cycling there. We analyse the potential of zooplankton to enter the Arctic Ocean through the Fram Strait during different seasons based on data on hydrography, current velocities and the depth distribution of zooplankton. Data were collected with high spatial resolution along a transect crossing the Atlantic inflow west of Svalbard at ca. 79 N in January, May and August 2014, using CTD, ADCP, laser optical plankton counter and Multinet. Based on current measurements (ship‐based and moorings) we calculate the mean transport and analyse how well our data sampled further north 10 days later compare to expectation based on mean current. Based on observed seasonal changes in depth distribution of different zooplankton groups, we discuss implications of zooplankton behaviour and life strategies of Atlantic and Arctic zooplankton species for transport into the AO.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 13 | Page Oral presentations

Ocean Observation at HAUSGARTEN: Responses of epibenthic megafaunal communities to changes in surface production and food availability between 2004 and 2015

James Taylor, Julian Gutt, Thomas Soltwedel, Melanie Bergmann

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

Ecosystems deeper than 2,000 m cover ~60% of the Earth's surface and represent the world's most vast biome. Although megafaunal organisms play an important role in deep benthic ecosystems and contribute significantly to benthic biomass little is known about their temporal dynamics. Established in the Fram Strait in 1999, the LTER (Long‐Term Ecological Research) observatory HAUSGARTEN enables us to study the composition of Arctic epibenthic megafaunal communities through the analysis of seafloor photographs from repeated camera transects. This, in combination with annual sampling campaigns, which have yielded data on faunal, bacterial, and biogeochemical properties at the seafloor, as well as on the local hydrography and the vertical export of organic matter, allows us to identify drivers of temporal variations in megafaunal abundances, diversity and community structure.

Here, we present the first time‐series results from a northern and the southernmost stations of the observatory (N3 and S3, ~2500 m depth) from 2004 to 2015, obtained via the analysis of images acquired by a towed camera system (Ocean Floor Observation System). We assess variability in megafaunal densities, species composition and diversity as well as biotic and abiotic factors, which may cause the trends observed. There were significant differences in megafaunal abundance, diversity and abiotic factors between years at both stations with N3 in particular seeing a significant increase in megafaunal abundance from 12.1 ind. m‐2 in 2004 to 35.2 ind. m‐2 in 2007. At S3, megafaunal densities increased over time from 12.4 ind. m‐2 in 2004 to a peak in 2015 (22.7 ind. m‐2). Megafaunal community structure underwent significant changes over the study period, which is reflected in a significant overall increase in (γ) diversity at both stations, however, with varying contributions of α and β diversities. While the small‐sized sea cucumber Elpidia heckeri increased significantly over time, the larger‐sized Kolga hyalina decreased continuously. The trends will be discussed in the context of changes recorded in water temperatures, related changes in surface production and varying food availability on the deep seafloor. The results indicate that epibenthic communities from the deep seafloor are reactive and dynamic, with no “null” community state. Our study highlights the importance of long‐term ecological research (LTER), as the megabenthic community composition appears to be characterised by continuous changes.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 14 | Page Oral presentations

Latitudinal and vertical distributions of carbon monoxide and VOCs in the Arctic Ocean during the TRANSSIZ cruise (May‐June 2015)

Valérie Gros 1, Roland Sarda Esteve 1, Bernard Bonsang 1, Ellen Damm 2, Anna Nikolopoulos 3, Ilka Peeken 2

1Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, France, 2Polar Biological Oceanography, Germany, 3AquaBiota Water Research, Sweden

Understanding the role of the ocean with respect to the exchanges of volatile organic compounds is particularly important in the Arctic since global warming effects are most pronounced in these areas. The oceanic sources of volatile organic compounds are believed to result from various processes, including plankton metabolism and/or grazing for e.g. isoprene or Dimethylsulfide (DMS), UV‐photo degradation of CDOM for carbon monoxide, unsaturated or some oxygenated hydrocarbons; but it is still unclear how these processes will respond to climate change. During the TRANSSIZ cruise (May – June 2015; from 57° to 81°N) our objectives were to follow the latitudinal and vertical distributions of dissolved VOCs in seawater from biological and/or physico‐chemical origin, to compare with previous cruises in the Arctic (2010‐2011) in order to detect any inter‐annual or seasonal variabilities and also to investigate for the first time the distribution of oxygenated VOCs (VOCOs) never described up to now in Polar Oceans. The specific influence of sea ice for air/sea exchanges (e.g. role on the solar radiation penetration or stratification of the water column) was considered. More than 20 dissolved VOCs were detected and measured by a proton transfer mass spectrometry technique (PTR/MS) with a time step of 5 minutes; a stripping device was particularly designed to allow the rapid extraction of dissolved COVs adapted to these fast PTR/MS measurements.

A clear decreasing trend with latitude was observed for isoprene (1‐10 pM), acetaldehyde (0‐ 50nM) and acetone (0‐100nM). High variability was found for CO (0‐20nM) and DMS (0‐ 200nM) with a significant increase toward high latitudes (75‐80°N). CH3SH (Methanethiol) was observed for the first time in these areas at concentrations of the order of 0‐15nM. To understand the origin of these VOCs, their vertical profiles were compared to the profiles of fluorescence and physico‐chemical parameters. For oxygenated compounds, the supersaturation of the ocean surface, and consequently the existence of an oceanic source was not systematically established. The simultaneously measurements of CH3SH and DMS provide insight into the Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) degradation pathways and displayed comparable latitudinal and geographical variability as well as similar vertical profiles in the water column. While CH3SH concentrations were on the average 10% of the DMS concentrations, the very high geographical variability of this relationship (5 to 50%) reveals for the first time shifts in the production of both components that are strongly dependent on the characteristics and/or origin of the water masses and interaction with melting sea ice.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 15 | Page Oral presentations

Community dynamics of bottom‐ice algae in Dease Strait of the Canadian Arctic

Karley Campbell 1, C.J. Mundy 1, Jack Landy 1, Aurelie Delaforge 1, Christine Michel 2, Søren Rysgaard 3

1University of Manitoba, Canada, 2University of Manitoba Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, 3University of Manitoba Canada, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Sea ice algae contribute to the productivity of the Arctic marine system when they bloom in the spring. During this time ice algae respond to physical changes in the sea ice environment by modifying cellular carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON) and pigment (chl a) content, and by adjusting their photophysiology. In this study we examined how ratios of these cellular components responded to the evolving snow‐covered sea ice environment near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut over spring. We also estimated photosynthesis‐irradiance (PI) curves using oxygen‐optodes and evaluated the resulting time‐series of PI parameters under thin and thick snow‐covered sites. There were no significant differences in PI parameters between B samples from different overlying snow depths, and only maximum photosynthetic rates (P s) and the photoacclimation parameter (Is) parameters changed significantly over time. The transmission of photosynthetically active radiation was an important factor in this study: B driving the seasonal changes in P s and Is, limiting daily photosynthesis, and causing greater POC:chl a estimates in late spring and under thin snow cover. Nitrogen limitation was pronounced in this study, likely reducing and algal photosynthetic rates, and increasing POC:PON ratios to over six times the Redfield average. Our results highlight the influence of both light and nutrients on ice algal biomass composition and photophysiology, and suggest a limitation by both resources over a diel period.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 16 | Page Oral presentations

Sediment and Nutrient Dynamics of Small Arctic Catchments ‐ A Case Study from Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, Canada

Caroline Coch 1, Michael Fritz 1, Hugues Lantuit 1, Scott Lamoureux 2

1Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute Helmholtz‐Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2Queen's University, Canada

Ecosystems in the Arctic are changing rapidly due to climate change. These changes result in degrading permafrost landscapes, in shifting hydrological regimes and thus, the release of sediment and nutrients to the atmosphere and/or to the Arctic Ocean. The impacts of large rivers have been the focus of many investigations, whereas changes of hydrology and nutrient dynamics in small Arctic catchments have yet to be understood. Small catchments could induce localized but large effects on the Arctic Ocean’s nearshore zone, in particular in relation to water quality and nutrient availability. This project is going to investigate hydrology and transportation of sediment and nutrients of two small adjacent catchments on Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, Canada.

We present an overview of the data collected over the past years and highlight some of the outstanding issues stemming from the analysis of the data. These include changing decoupling and coupling of the hydrological regime with snow, depending on the time in the season, but also on the abrupt changes in solute contents during rain events and the great spatial variability of the reservoirs of organic matter in the catchments. Methods of meteorology, hydrology, soil science, biogeochemistry and remote sensing are utilized for a comprehensive assessment of the changing ecosystem. Between 2014 and 2016, data of vegetation cover, discharge, active layer depth, soil organic carbon and nitrogen, soil temperature and soil moisture had been collected. Snow water equivalent estimations were retrieved from snow probing along transects and from acoustic sensors at the weather stations in 2016. The hydrological stations at the outflow of each catchment collect data of water height, temperature and conductivity. Together with data from active layer probing and soil moisture stations, thaw dynamics are going to be investigated. Turbidity values of up to 132 NTU from a catchment of only 1.42 km² emphasize the relevance small catchments may have in terms of sediment flux to the Arctic Ocean.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 17 | Page Oral presentations

Multi‐trait approaches ‐ A roadmap towards the understanding of future Arctic ecosystems

Renate Degen

University of Vienna, Austria

Today Arctic shelf ecosystems are facing changes in hydrography, seasonality, and productivity, additionally having to deal with stressors like northward migrating species and increased human activities. Although a huge amount of data on the structural properties of pelagic and benthic shelf communities was gathered in the last decades, we are currently not able to estimate or predict how the ongoing and prospective environmental changes will affect ecosystem functioning. The major obstacle down that road is that there is not a single index that can describe overall ecosystem functioning. Consequently, there is an obvious need for holistic approaches that encompass various measures of different biotic components and ecological processes. Here we show based on literature review that multi‐ trait approaches – such that include all traits expressed over an entire assemblage – are promising tools in that direction. A trait is a component of an organism‘s phenotype that determines its effect on processes and its response to environmental factors. We constrain the approach to one compartment, the zoobenthos, which is involved in the regulation of fundamental ecosystem processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling, sediment oxygenation and decomposition of organic matter. Further, we point out that the multi‐trait or biological trait approach (BTA) of benthic communities offers several advantages compared to the sole use of traditional species based methods:

 Allows comparing changes in functioning or responses across biogeographic regions containing different species pools.  Early responses to changes are visible in the functional structure rather than in the taxonomic structure.  Functional diversity is assumed a better predictor of ecosystem productivity and vulnerability than species diversity.  Estimation of functional redundancy (i.e. the within‐trait species richness), giving information on the resilience of an ecosystem or the buffer capacity to the loss of species.

We conclude by introducing the Arctic Trait Online Platform, a tool to access and share Arctic trait information within the scientific community and to foster and facilitate the application of trait‐based approaches in future studies.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 18 | Page Oral presentations

Three years insight into zooplankton life in a semi‐enclosed Arctic fjord, Billefjorden, Svalbard. Seasonal population dynamics, annual calendar of reproduction and development.

Katarzyna Dmoch 1, Janne E. Søreide 2, Katarzyna Blachowiak‐Samolyk 1, Emilia Trudnowska 1, Malin Daase 3

1Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, 3Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway

In the face of ongoing climate changes in Arctic ecosystems there is an urgent need of understanding seasonality, which further enables recognition of changes in phenology, potentially the first adaptation mechanism in disturbed environments. So far, we have rather poor knowledge about long‐termed abundance and mortality fluctuations, overwintering strategies and even length of reproductive period of arctic zooplankton species. These gaps can be addressed in long‐term data series, which are furthermore the best way of identifying drivers of community change, but such time series, especially the ones with fine seasonal resolution, are in very short supply. Available datasets from Arctic Seas are patchy in temporal and spatial scales and also not consistent in relation to methods used and material of research. Most of the zooplankton studies were restricted to the spring and summer seasons, regarded epipelagic waters and focused on only several dominant species, not the entire planktonic assemblage.

Basing on year‐round monthly collected zooplankton abundance data from the same station located in a seasonally ice‐covered Billefjorden we provide the wide temporal picture of the whole mesozooplankton community structure from 2011 to 2013 with stress put on main functional groups: herbivore‐large and small copepods, omnivore‐small copepods, meroplankton and predators. We explore the age structure of most common zooplankters together with their vertical distribution in annual coverage, with aim of giving evidence of seasonal migrations, and describing from‐year‐to‐year repeatable seasonal development patterns of plankton communities in a “clean and tidy” system without physical and biological disturbance. Three years dataset enabled us to present a trial of calendar that gives a summary of either reproduction onset of taxa, or seasonal versus interannual variability of their populations' development. It shows suspected time of enlarged and depressed populations occurrence, compares taxa abundance fluctuations and repeatability of peaks presence. Investigations on station BAB were conducted under the Norwegian research project CLEOPATRA II, and are continued as a part of the Isfjorden Marine Observatory Svalbard (IMOS) program.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 19 | Page Oral presentations

Model forecasting of sea ice physics and biogeochemistry in the Arctic Ocean

Pedro Duarte 1, Philipp Assmy 1, Lasse Olsen 1, Hanna Kauko 1, Haakon Hop 2, Harald Steen 1, Mats Granskog 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Norwegian Polar Institute and UiT, Norway

The Los Alamos Sea Ice Model (CICE) includes all the most recent improvements on sea ice physical and biogeochemical modelling, such as: (i) mushy layer dynamics; (ii) simulation of sea ice salinity using different parameterizations; (iii) vertically resolved biogeochemical processes. Simulations carried out with CICE forced with atmospheric and oceanographic data collected during the Norwegian Young Sea Ice (N‐ICE2015) expedition are used to show model sensitivity to several physical and biological parameters. Model results combined with biogeochemical datasets collected during N‐ICE2015 allowed identifying some of the most important knowledge gaps in sea ice forecasting: (i) timing and rates of biological recruitment to sea ice; (ii) plasticity of biological parameters under different ice regimes, dependent on the high variability of snow and ice thickness; (iii) variability of the optical properties of different snow and ice types; (iv) detrimental effects of high light exposure under thin ice and snow cover; (iv) within‐ice vertical variability of biological rates. Model results show a good fit to observations for physical and for some biogeochemical variables with proper parameter tuning. However, the knowledge gaps mentioned here make it very difficult to judge the realism of some of the tuned parameter values, emphasizing the need to improve current understanding about those gaps through properly designed field and laboratory studies.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 20 | Page Oral presentations

Protist community structure in Atlantic Arctic, through the year and from surface to 1000m depth as revealed by high throughput sequencing.

Elianne Egge 1, Stephanie Elferink 2, Daniel Vaulot 3, Aud Larsen 4, Gunnar Bratbak 5, Hervé Moreau 6, Uwe John 2, Bente Edvardsen 1

1University of Oslo, Norway, 2Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 3Station Biologique de Roscoff CNRS/UPMC, France, 4Uni Research Environment and Hjort Centre for Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Norway, 5University of Bergen, Norway, 6Observatoire Océanologique de Banuyls sur Mer, France

Unicellular protists, including microalgae are main suppliers of photosynthetic products that marine higher trophic levels depend upon. Yet, the Arctic Ocean protist community contains a vast unknown diversity and many of the described species are poorly known. Diversity and dynamics throughout the polar night and at great depths remains particularly understudied due to limited access. In the MicroPolar project we asked “Who are present and when during the year?”, “How is the community structured by depth and geography?” and “What are the environmental driving forces for the observed distribution?”

Sampling cruises to North and West of Svalbard were carried out five times during 2014 (January, March, May, August and November). Samples were collected at 3‐6 stations and four depths (1‐1000m). Fifty litres were divided into four size fractions from micro‐ to picoplankton. The 18S V4 region of nuclear rDNA and the 16S V9 region of chloroplast rDNA and rRNA were high throughput sequenced with Illumina.

We obtained c. 35 000 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) clustered at 98% similarity. The protist community composition differed significantly between the dark and light seasons, and between surface water and beyond the photic zone. In addition, OTU richness varied significantly with depth and season. OTU richness was significantly higher in the upper layers all months except March. The January samples had lowest richness, whereas August had highest. In terms of both OTU richness and proportional read abundance, Dinophyta was dominating in most samples, except in the May samples representing the spring bloom, where diatoms dominated. The 200 most frequent OTUs were detected all seasons and in both surface and deeper layers. The majority of these were assigned to defined clades consisting of environmental sequences only, such as MAST‐clades and Dino‐Group clades. This highlights the need for more reference DNA sequences from cultures. Several abundant and frequent OTUs matched well‐known Arctic species, such as Chaetoceros gelidus (socialis), Phaeocystis pouchetii, Gyrodinium fusiforme and Micromonas pusilla. Interestingly, OTUs assigned to Picobiliphyta were also among the ubiquitous OTUs. Picobiliphyta were first described in 2007 in particular from samples from the Arctic Ocean, and all are thought to be heterotrophic.

As global climate change is expected to be most severe in the Arctic and may affect microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles more seriously in this region than anywhere else, this study is important to be able to assess the impact of climate change in the Arctic at the microbial level.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 21 | Page Oral presentations

Scales matter: Environmental drivers of species distribution in the under‐ice habitat and importance of sea ice algae for trophic carbon flux in the central Arctic Ocean

Hauke Flores 1, Carmen David 1, Doreen Kohlbach 1, Fokje Schaafsma 2, Benjamin Lange 1, Julia Ehrlich 1, Giulia Castellani 1, Ilka Peeken 1, Kristin Hardge 1, Katja Metfies 1, Barbara Niehoff 1, Jan Andries van Franeker 2, Christian Katlein 1, Marcel Nicolaus 1

1AWI, Germany, 2IMARES, Netherlands

With three historical sea ice minima occurring within one decade, it is evident that the Arctic sea ice system has changed profoundly and will continue to do so in the coming years. The rapid deterioration of the spatio‐temporal extent and structural composition of Arctic sea ice has presumably been strongly impacting on sea ice‐associated ecosystems. Beyond this general perception, however, our understanding of how these changes effect on key ecosystem parameters, such as biodiversity, productivity and carbon flux, is poorly understood. One reason for this is that important players, such as ice algae and under‐ice fauna, and their relationship with habitat properties are not well quantified due to our limited ability to sample sea ice habitats at the appropriate scale. To improve representativeness of sampling at large spatial scales, we used a Surface and Under‐Ice Trawl (SUIT) equipped with an environmental sensor array, which samples sea ice properties, ice algal biomass, and under‐ice fauna along kilometre‐long transects. Our results show that sea ice properties are a key driver of the under‐ice community structure, and also in protist and mesozooplankton communities sampled concurrently. Carbon flux from sea ice into abundant under‐ice and zooplankton species was quantified based on the stable isotope composition of carbon in marker fatty acids. These biomarker studies revealed that the bulk of the carbon uptake in both under‐ice and pelagic key species, including polar cod, was derived from ice algae. The quantification of ice algae is difficult due to the high spatial variability of their biomass. Using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and SUIT, Ice algal biomass was estimated from under‐ice profiles of light spectra with a newly developed bio‐ optical approach. This approach significantly improved the representativeness of ice algal biomass and primary production on larger spatial scales. In conclusion, our results show that there is a strong link between sea ice, under‐ice and pelagic plankton communities, indicating that we are observing a major regime shift in the Arctic sea ice ecosystem. Unfortunately, we are only beginning to understand the processes driving this shift. To further this urgently needed understanding, a multi‐scale approach is the key to predicting the impact of Climate Change on High‐Arctic ecosystems.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 22 | Page Oral presentations

The Distributed Biological Observatory: A Marine Change Detection Array in the Pacific Arctic

Jacqueline Grebmeier 1, Lee Cooper 1, Monika Kędra 2, Sue Moore 3

1University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, USA, 2Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 3National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Fisheries, USA

Marine ecosystems in the Arctic Ocean are undergoing significant changes due to rapid sea ice loss and seawater warming, particularly on the inflow shelves influenced by exchange with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Key processes that are shifting in phenology include seasonal sea ice formation and retreat over a latitudinal range, advection of nutrient‐rich Pacific water across the shelves into the Arctic Basin, and pelagic‐benthic coupling on the broad continental shelves that connect lower trophic organisms to upper trophic level resource use. In response to dramatic seasonal sea ice loss and other physical changes, a Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) has been coordinated internationally as a change detection array to document biological responses to physical variability along a latitudinal gradient extending from the northern Bering Sea to the Beaufort Sea in the Pacific Arctic region. The most comprehensive DBO sampling has been focused on five regions of demonstrated high productivity, biodiversity and/or rates of change in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. Since 2010, the DBO has developed by coordination through the Pacific Arctic Group (PAG), a consortium of 6 countries participating in an independent cooperative associated with the International Arctic Science Committee. Countries sampling regularly in the region include Canada, China, Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States. In addition, the DBO concept is expanding to a larger pan‐Arctic network with longitudinal transect lines from west to east in the Beaufort Sea and plans to include latitudinal DBO transect lines in the northern Barents Sea. Standardized sampling in all five DBO regions in the Pacific Arctic region ranges from physical to biochemical, including biological measurements across the main trophic levels to document biodiversity and biomass, to satellite observations and mooring arrays. An Arctic Marine Pulses conceptual model has developed from this effort and incorporates the DBO regional locations to facilitate tracking of seasonal biophysical ‘pulses’ across a latitudinal gradient from the northern Bering Sea to the northern Chukchi Sea. As such, the DBO collects and evaluates key information to enable ecosystem approaches to management in pan‐Arctic ecosystems. The DBO network is endorsed by the PAG, which provides a process for engaging and organizing the international scientific community in monitoring the Arctic. We will highlight results and outcomes from the DBO effort to track biological responses in the context of ongoing ecosystem‐based, multidisciplinary studies that are supported by a network of international stakeholders.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 23 | Page Oral presentations

Seasonal variation in mesozooplankton trait composition: the structural role of advected mesozooplankton on the plankton community north of Svalbard

Elisabeth Halvorsen 1, Camilla Svensen 1, Slawomir Kwasniewski 2

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN), Poland

The West Spitsbergen current transports warm Atlantic water, bringing boreal plankton communities into the Arctic pelagic realm on the shelf and slope waters north of Svalbard. The distribution patterns of particular characteristics (traits) of the mesozooplankton, such as organism size and trophic position, have a strong structural effect on the plankton community, and this effect will vary on a seasonal scale due both to the natural seasonal succession of species in the plankton, and the variability in the advective flux in this area. Within the frame of the NRC funded project CarbonBridge, mesozooplankton has been sampled along transects across the West Spitsbergen current and the North Svalbard shelf in January, May and August in order to determine species abundance, composition and vertical distribution on a seasonal scale. In May and August, three additional stations were sampled on the North Svalbard shelf and slope. The objective of the present study is to use a trait‐ based approach focussing on two key traits; body size and trophic position (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore or detritivore), in order to assess the structural impact of the advected mesozooplankton on the plankton community north of Svalbard. Detailed knowledge on the concurrent physical and biological environment is also available, and will be used for correlative measures between trait distribution patterns and the environmental parameters. Knowledge of the mechanisms that determine species composition at a given site and time can be instructive for understanding how the system will respond to changed environmental conditions, like the predicted reduced ice cover and increased water temperatures on the North Svalbard shelf and slope.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 24 | Page Oral presentations

Resisting climate change ‐‐ multiple stressors do not alter Arctic primary production

Clara Jule Marie Hoppe 1, Klara Wolf 1, Nina Schuback 2, Philippe D. Tortell 2, Björn Rost 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute ‐ Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2University of British Columbia, Canada

The Arctic Ocean is one of the regions most prone to on‐going ocean acidification and other climate‐driven changes, including increased sea surface temperature, sea‐ice melt and altered mixing regimes. However, the influence of these changes on Arctic primary productivity, phytoplankton ecology and elemental cycles remains poorly understood. In order to understand how ocean acidification, warming and enhanced irradiances (resulting from sea‐ice retreat and increased mixed layer stratification) will alter the productivity and species composition of Arctic phytoplankton, we conducted several incubation experiments with natural plankton assemblages from Davis Strait (63ºN), Baffin Bay (71ºN) and Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, 79ºN). Despite differences during the initial acclimation period, final primary productivity was not strongly affected by ocean acidification, warming and enhanced irradiances. This surprising stability in ecosystem function was achieved through functional redundancy of different diatoms species in one instance, but most assemblages were also resistant in terms of taxonomic composition. Our experiments indicate that high levels of phenotypic plasticity of organisms in concert with a large standing diversity of populations could underlie the observed resilience of Arctic primary producers to climate‐ dependent environmental change.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 25 | Page Oral presentations

The marine ecosystem north of Svalbard ‐ bridging physical and biological processes

Randi Ingvaldsen, Harald Gjøsæter, Tore Haug, Lis L. Jørgensen, Tor Knutsen, Sebastian Menze

Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Global warming drives changes in sea ice and oceanographic conditions in the Arctic Ocean and the adjacent continental slopes. This may result in favourable conditions for increased biological production in waters at the northern continental shelves and give possibilities for increased harvest. Based on three years (2014‐2016) of observations from the SI_ARCTIC project we combine physical oceanographic measurements with observations on plankton, fish, benthos and marine mammals from the area west and north of Svalbard with focus on describing observed gradients. The observations show the presence of a mesopelagic layer between 300 and 500 m, and part of the mesopelagic layer show a substantial dial vertical migration. In eastern Fram Strait, the mesopelagic layer was dominated by fish close to the shelf break and the Atlantic Water flow, but switched to dominance by plankton further offshore. Large cod, feeding in the mesopelagic layer, leave the shallow shelf going westwards in Fram Strait over deep water (>2800m). North of Svalbard the mesopelagic layer over deep water was dominated by plankton and with less fish and more marine mammals as compared to Fram Strait. The area to the north of Hinlopen seem to be a hotspot regarding observed gradients in biomass and diversity. The region is characterized by relatively high biomass of demersal fish and benthos, substantial concentrations of zooplankton, and in some years, quite a few whales. The biomass/diversity seems to be linked to a complex suite of environmental conditions including; dynamical features of the ocean currents due to bathymetry at the shelf and on the shelf break towards the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Water flow along the shelf break, and sea ice conditions. There are substantial changes between years, which probably are linked to atmospheric forcing affecting sea ice cover and possibly local cross‐shelf exchange.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 26 | Page Oral presentations

First results from a new interdisciplinary robotic vehicle for under‐ice research

Christian Katlein, Marcel Nicolaus

Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

Research at the ice‐water interface below drifting sea‐ice is crucial for the investigation of the fluxes of energy, momentum, and matter across the atmosphere‐ice‐ocean boundary. Transmission of solar energy through the ice and snow layers causes warming of the upper ocean and melting of the ice itself. It is also a key factor for in and under‐ice primary production, supplying the ice associated food chain, and causing carbon export to deeper water layers and the sea floor. The complex geometry of sea ice does not only cause a large spatial variability in optical properties of the ice cover, but also influences biomass accumulations and especially the hydrodynamic interaction between the ice cover and the uppermost ocean.

Observations at the ice underside are however still sparse, as diving operations are risky and logistically challenging. In the last decade, robotic underwater technologies have evolved significantly and enabled the first targeted large‐scale observations by remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles (ROVs and AUVs). A ROV was commissioned for under ice research at the Alfred Wegener Institute providing an extended interdisciplinary sensor platform supporting oceanographic, biological, biogeochemical, and physical sea‐ice research.

Here we present the first data obtained during the PS101 expedition of the German icebreaker RV Polarstern to the Central Arctic in September and October 2016. The ROV is designed for operations directly on the sea ice and is thus highly flexible for various sea ice applications on vessels, at stations, by helicopter, or in ice camps. Apart from measurements of spectral light transmittance of sea ice during the autumn freeze‐up, we show vertical profiles of the bio‐optical properties of the upper water column. This data is combined with under‐ice topography obtained from upward‐looking multibeam sonar, still imagery, and HD‐video material.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 27 | Page Oral presentations

Windows in Arctic sea ice: light transmission and the role of ice algae in a refrozen lead

Hanna M. Kauko 1, Torbjørn Taskjelle 2, Alexey K. Pavlov 1, C. J. Mundy 3, Philipp Assmy 1, Pedro Duarte 1, Mar Fernández‐Méndez 1, Lasse Mork Olsen 1, Stephen R. Hudson 1, Geir Johnsen 4, Ashley Elliott 3, Feiyue Wang 3, Mats A. Granskog 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2University of Bergen, Norway, 3University of Manitoba, Canada, 4Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

The Arctic Ocean is facing rapid changes, including a more dynamic sea‐ice environment and more light availability for the primary producers due to thinner ice cover. Little is known about the interaction of solar radiation with thin sea ice and its suitability as a habitat for ice algae. During the Norwegian Young Sea ICE (N‐ICE2015) expedition, we conducted bio‐ optical observations on newly formed sea ice in a refrozen lead (a biomass. In addition, downwelling and ice transmitted spectral irradiance was measured. We show that refrozen leads in the pack ice play an important role in light transmission to the bottom of the ice and the underlying water column with important implications for biological production. With the help of a radiative transfer model, we studied the role of snow, CDOM and algal biomass in light transmission through the ice. Ice algae growing in the lead had extremely high concentrations of MAAs, indicating high need for photoprotection against high light/UV levels, which could possibly have negative consequences for their growth rate. We also discuss the possible leaking of MAAs from algal cells during sample handling, which should be considered during CDOM sample collection and radiative transfer modelling.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 28 | Page Oral presentations

Size‐related response of zooplankton to various temperature regimes along latitudinal gradient from boreal to polar marine coastal ecosystems

Slawomir Kwasniewski 1, Weronika Patula 2, Emilia Trudnowska 1

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2The University of Gdansk, Poland

The structure and variability of zooplankton determine biogeochemical cycles through impact on ocean trophodynamics and the biological carbon pump. The size of zooplankton is one of the main features influencing key processes in the ecosystems and shaping the flow of energy and matter within the food webs. At the same time, temperature is one of the main environmental factors influencing life at different organization levels, including body size of zooplankton species or size structure of zooplankton communities. Declining species or community size have been found as significant and universal response to global warming. At present, global surface temperature increases at the fastest rate in the record of climate change, with the temperature in the Arctic growing three times faster than elsewhere.

The above observations motivated us to undertake a study aiming at verification of a hypothesis assuming zooplankton species and communities reach smaller size in environments with higher water temperature regimes, under the DWARF (Declining size ‐ a general response to climate warming in Arctic fauna?) research project.

The study was performed in six fjords located along the coasts of Norway and Arctic Svalbard archipelago, providing study locations with natural temperature gradient. The zooplankton was collected with traditional nets (MPS 180µm, WP2 60µm) and was observed in situ with high resolution Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC), with supplementary hydrographic measurements. The collected data allowed for investigating and comparing body size of main zooplankton species and zooplankton community size spectra of zooplankton functioning under different temperature regimes.

The study of morphological and size characteristics enabled us to investigate differences in body size in key copepod species (e.g. Calanus), from hydrographic regimes spanning from temperate Raunefjorden to Arctic Rijpfjorden. The comparison of net community size structure and biomass size spectra allowed evaluation of differences in potential production and energy utilization by zooplankton inhabiting those various regimes.

Most of the results support the hypothesis predicting decline in size of zooplankton species and communities with increasing temperature, with some deviations from this pattern also observed.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 29 | Page Oral presentations

Future Arctic Algae Blooms: seasonal studies in rapidly changing times

Eva Leu 1, Clara Jule Marie Hoppe 2, Finlo Cottier 3, Ane Cecilie Kvernvik 4, Klara Wolf 2, Jozef Wiktor 5, Zofia Smola 5, Peygham Ghaffari 1, Ole Anders Nøst 1, Andre Staalstrøm 6, Björn Rost 2, Maria Chun Nielsdóttir 2, Ian Salter 2, Jørgen Berge 7

1Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 2Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute, Germany, 3Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scotland, 4UNIS, Norway, 5Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Science, Poland, 6NIVA, Norway, 7University of Tromsø, Norway

The physical conditions in the Arctic are changing very rapidly. During winter 2015/16 we experienced a minimum winter sea ice extent that was the lowest on record, and seawater temperatures at the end of the summer 2016 were 4°C higher than usual. These changes have great implications for Arctic algal blooms in sea ice and water, which represent the basis of the Arctic marine food web. In the RCN‐funded FAABulous project (Future Arctic Algae Blooms – and their role in the context of climate change) we aim at a mechanistic understanding of the physical‐chemical forcing of algal blooms in Arctic waters. To this end, we study the seasonal development of algal communities in two fjords in Svalbard with contrasting oceanographic characteristics and sea ice coverage. Due to a geographic barrier at its entrance, van Mijenfjorden experiences much less advection of Atlantic water than Kongsfjorden that has been almost completely ice‐free during the past decade and represents a future ice‐free scenario. By combining autonomous observatories with field campaigns, we have followed the seasonal processes in both systems with an unprecedented temporal resolution throughout the exceptionally warm year 2015/16. The spring bloom in the inner part of van Mijenfjorden started by the end of April, 2‐3 weeks later than in Kongsfjorden, but the nitrate drawdown happened much faster (within 2‐3 weeks compared to 6‐8 weeks in Kongsfjorden). Both fjords sustained elevated fluorescence values in the water column throughout the summer, with a marked increase in Kongsfjorden in mid July, and in van Mijenfjorden one month later. These secondary blooms are probably based on regenerated production. In both fjords, the spring bloom starts prior to major changes in the thermohaline conditions. Due to the exceptionally warm conditions during spring 2016, there was no substantial ice coverage in either of the fjords. By using the 3D model FVCOM, we can follow the effects of different advection regimes on the local fjord oceanography and its impact on bloom timing and development.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 30 | Page Oral presentations

Circulation and transport of Atlantic Water along the North‐Western Svalbard shelf break based on ADCP data

Sebastian Menze 1, Randi Ingvaldsen 2, Arild Sundfjord 3, Stig Falk‐Pettersen 4, Michael Klages 5

1Institute or Marine Research, Norway, 2Institute of Marine Research, 3Norwegian Polar Institute, 4University of Tromsø, 5Alfred Wegener Institute

Ocean currents act as advective routes transporting heat, nutrients and plankton, but also impact the local and small‐scale distribution of heat and biological material. Along the North‐ Western Svalbard shelf, Atlantic Water enters the Arctic Ocean as boundary current. The circulation west and north of Svalbard is complex due to substantial spatial variability in topography as well as temporal variability in wind forcing, lateral exchange processes and eddies. Detailed knowledge of the variable flow has so far been limited due to lack of direct observations with sufficient spatial and temporal coverage. Here we present an extensive data set based on acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements from multiple vessels as well as temperature and salinity data gathered with FF Helmer Hanssen. The boundary current was found to be highly variable, with individual flow events reaching currents speeds up to 0.5 m s‐1. Transport estimates of Atlantic Water flowing along the shelf break were calculated across several sections and compared to previous estimates.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 31 | Page Oral presentations

Spatio‐temporal variation in benthic function in two high Arctic fjords (Kongsfjorden and Rijpfjorden, Svalbard)

Nathalie Morata 1, Solveig Bourgeois 2, Monika Kędra 3, Philippe Kerhervé 4, Catherine Lalande 5, Emma Michaud 6, Paul E. Renaud 1

1Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 2Oceanlab, Scotland, 3IOPAN, Poland, 4CEFREM, France, 5Québec‐ Océan, Canada, 6LEMAR, France

Arctic marine ecosystems are characterized by strong seasonality in sea‐ice cover, light, and food availability. Climate change effects are enhanced in the Arctic and these changes are expected to have repercussions for the functioning of the entire ecosystem. It is still unclear, however, how benthic organisms will respond to variations in food sources (quantity, quality and timing) and environmental conditions. The main aim of this study was to characterize spatial and seasonal variations of benthic fauna and its activities in two contrasting high Arctic fjords. Rijpfjorden, a high Arctic fjord in northern Svalbard, experiences seasonal ice cover (4‐6 months per year) while Kongsfjorden, on the west side of Svalbard, is highly influenced by warm Atlantic waters inflows, and its ice cover has been decreasing over the last decade. For each season, the organic matter sinking from the water column to the seafloor was quantified and characterized (chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon, phytoplankton, zooplankton faecal pellet carbon, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates). The response of the benthos to these inputs was studied in terms of respiration (as indicator of overall benthic communities’ activity), bioturbation (as indicator of macrofauna activities), and trophic relations (stable isotope signatures of δ15N and δ13C).

In both systems, vertical fluxes of organic matter exhibited seasonal variation. In the sediment, organic matter quality and quantity showed stronger spatial variation due to glacier inputs than seasonal variation. Benthic activities exhibited strong seasonal variations in Rijpfjorden in response to changes in organic matter’s inputs. In Kongsfjorden, however, changes in respiration and bioturbation were low to null. This suggests that the benthos of Kongsfjorden, highly influenced by inputs of warm Atlantic water, does not rely on seasonal inputs of organic matter such as in Rijpfjorden and other Arctic shelves with more significant ice cover.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 32 | Page Oral presentations

The role of multiyear ice in the seeding of ice‐algal blooms in Arctic pack ice

Lasse M. Olsen 1, Samuel R. Laney 2, Pedro Duarte 1, Hanna M. Kauko 1, Mar Fernandez‐ Mendez 1, Cristopher J. Mundy 3, Anja Rösel 1, Amelie Meyer 1, Polona Itkin 1, Lana Cohen 1, Ilka Peeken 4, Agnieszka Tatarek 5, Wiktor Jozef 5, Haakon Hop 1, Philipp Assmy 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA, USA, 3University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, 4Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany, 5Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

During the Norwegian young sea ICE expedition (N‐ICE2015) a multidisciplinary team of scientists studied the pack ice in the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard from January to June 2015 during four ice drifts between 83° and 80° N. Our results indicate that algae locked up in the upper layers of multiyear ice function as a winter repository. Once the connectivity in the entire ice column improves as a result of temperature‐driven increases in ice porosity during spring, algae further up in the ice are able to migrate towards the ice bottom and initiate the ice‐algal spring bloom. Furthermore, this algae repository seems to seed ice‐algal blooms in adjacent younger ice. The pack ice investigated during the expedition consisted of a mix of multiyear, first year and young ice. The physical properties of the atmosphere‐ ocean‐ice system, and the composition and abundance of ice‐algal assemblages in the three different ice types were monitored through the winter‐spring‐summer transition. This proposed seeding mechanism of MYI may be seriously compromised due to the disappearance of multiyear ice and the anticipated regime shift towards an ice‐free Arctic Ocean in summer.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 33 | Page Oral presentations

Navigating troubled waters: Inuit ways of navigating sea‐ice change, and the use of scientific information to navigate Northwest Passage

Bindu Panikkar 1, Benjamin Lemmond 1, Brent Else 2, Maribeth Murray 3

1University of Vermont, USA, 2University of Calgary, Canada, 3Arctic Institute of North America, Canada

Sea‐ice throughout the Arctic is undergoing profound and rapid change. While sea‐ice in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) appears more stable compared to open ocean sea‐ice, the major thoroughfares in much of western/central Canadian Arctic, including the Northwest Passage are increasingly vulnerable to climatic changes. We report the observations of Inuit elders and experienced hunters in the community of Cambridge Bay along Dease Strait and Kugluktuk along the Coronation Gulf on sea‐ice change along the Northwest Passage, challenges to traditional modes and patterns of navigation due to sea‐ice change, and the use of scientific information for navigation. Navigation practices as described by elders in Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay reflect an intimate knowledge of the topography, currents, weather, and ice conditions for hundreds of miles around their communities. Elders reported increasing unpredictable weather, which makes travel more treacherous. Many elders emphasized the importance of traditional knowledge and survival skills as a necessary to endure the impending changes. They are particularly concerned that the younger generation is untrained in traditional navigation practices, landscape‐ and weather‐reading abilities, as well as survival practices. Elders stressed the need for more localized weather information to help with their navigation, since current weather and ice conditions are unprecedented in their lifetimes.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 34 | Page Oral presentations

Synechococcus in the Atlantic gateway to the Arctic Ocean

Maria Lund Paulsen 1, Hugo Doré 1, Laurence Garczarek 2, Lena Seuthe 3, Oliver Müller 1, Ruth‐Anne Sandaa 1, Gunnar Bratbak 1, Aud Larsen 1

1Bergen University, Norway, 2Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris, France, 3The Arctic University of Norway

Increasing temperatures, with pronounced effects at high latitudes, have raised questions about potential changes in species composition, as well as possible increased importance of small‐celled phytoplankton in marine systems. In this study, we mapped out one of the smallest and globally most widespread primary producers, the picocyanobacterium Synechococcus, within the Atlantic inflow to the Arctic Ocean. In contrast to the general understanding that Synechococcus is almost absent in polar oceans due to low temperatures, we encountered high abundances (up to 21,000 cells mL‐1) at 79 °N, and documented their presence as far north as 82.5 °N. Covering an annual cycle in 2014, we found that during autumn and winter, Synechococcus was often more abundant than picoeukaryotes, which usually dominate the picophytoplankton communities in the Arctic. Synechococcus community composition shifted from a quite high genetic diversity during the spring bloom to a clear dominance of two specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in autumn and winter. We observed abundances higher than 1,000 cells mL‐1 in water colder than 2 °C at seven distinct stations and size‐fractionation experiments demonstrated a net growth of Synechococcus at 2 °C in the absence of nano‐sized grazers at certain periods of the year. Phylogenetic analysis of petB sequences demonstrated that these high latitude Synechococcus group within the previously described cold‐adapted clades I and IV, but also contributed to unveil novel genetic diversity, especially within clade I.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 35 | Page Oral presentations

Effects of an Arctic under‐ice bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii on optical properties of the water column and under‐ice light field based on in situ observations and radiative transfer modelling

Alexey Pavlov 1, Torbjørn Taskjelle 2, Hanna Kauko 1, Børge Hamre 2, Stephen Hudson 1, Philipp Assmy 1, Pedro Duarte 1, Mar Fernández‐Méndez 1, CJ Mundy 3, Mats Granskog 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2University of Bergen, Norway, 3University of Manitoba, Norway

More solar radiation may penetrate into ice‐covered waters due to a thinner and more dynamic Arctic sea‐ice cover, thus creating a potential for higher primary productivity. Despite several reports of under‐ice phytoplankton blooms mainly in the Western Arctic, our knowledge about them is still rather scarce. Describing the under‐ice light field and quantifying the factors shaping it are an important step towards a better understanding of present and future under‐ice phytoplankton blooms in the Arctic Ocean.

During the Norwegian Young Sea Ice (N‐ICE2015) expedition, an extensive phytoplankton bloom dominated by the haptophyte algae Phaeocystis pouchetii with chlorophyll a values up to 8 mg/m3 was observed under compact snow‐covered sea ice at 80‐81˚N, between 26 May and 22 June 2015. The bloom changed the bio‐optical properties of surface waters, resulting in increased absorption and, particularly, scattering in the water column. The ratio between scattering and absorption was high, compared to previous Arctic studies. Absorption by phytoplankton increased during the bloom. Absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) only slightly increased towards the end of the bloom, indicating local production of marine CDOM.

Measured absorption and scattering in the water were further used as inputs to a 1D coupled atmosphere‐ice‐ocean radiative transfer model (AccuRT). Simulations show that multiple scattering between the sea ice and particles (phytoplankton) in the ocean lead to a counterintuitive increase in scalar irradiance (Eo(PAR), photosynthetically active radiation) at the ice‐ocean interface by 6‐7% compared to the a pre‐bloom situation. This could have a positive feedback on sea‐ice algae productivity and under‐ice phytoplankton. The ratio between Eo(PAR) and downwelling planar irradiance (Ed(PAR)) below sea ice reached up to 1.90, illustrating that the use of Ed(PAR) might significantly underestimate the amount of PAR available for photosynthesis underneath sea ice. Changes in optical properties due to the bloom led to an increase in energy deposition in the upper 10 m by about 35% compared to pre‐bloom conditions. Over a period of 25 days, the bloom could cause an additional 0.2 K solar warming of the upper 10 m.

We emphasize that a thorough description of seawater optical properties, in addition to observations of light transmittance through sea ice, is important for correct estimates of the light field and its effects on ocean warming and primary production in ice‐covered waters. Our findings could help to improve light parameterizations in primary production models.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 36 | Page Oral presentations

The importance of the Atlantic inflow for shaping productivity and biodiversity of microbial communities along the ice covered European Arctic margin in spring

Ilka Peeken 1, Marcel Babin 2, Flavienne Bruyant 2, Giulia Castellani 1, Maxime Fradette 3, Pierre‐Luc Grondin 2, Johanna Hessel 1, Yannick Huot 3, Markus Janout 1, Christian Katlein 1, Katja Metfies 1, Christine Michel 4, Anna Nikolopoulos 5, Eva‐Maria Noethig 1, Marit Reigstad 6, Jean‐Éric Tremblay 2, Stephan Wietkamp 1

1Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung, Germany, 2Takuvik and Québec‐Océan, Biology Department, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, Canada, 3Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté des lettres et Sciences Humaines, Département de Géomatique, Canada, 4Fisheries and Oceans Canada Freshwater Institute (FWI), Canada, 5AquaBiota Water Research, Sweden, 6University of Tromsø, Norway

The Arctic Ocean is currently one of the key regions where the effect of climate change is most pronounced. Massive reduction of sea ice thickness and extent, which have been recorded over the last twenty years, is anticipated to cause large cascading changes in the entire Arctic ecosystem. During the TRANSSIZ (The Transitions in the Arctic Seasonal Sea Ice Zone) cruise in May/June 20015 ecological and biogeochemical process studies were carried out with the R/V Polarstern from the shelf to the basins of the European Arctic margin and on the Yermak Plateau. Almost nothing is known in Arctic ice covered marine regions during the onset of biomass increase in late spring. For the process studies the ship was anchored for 36 hours to an ice floe to carry out a set of measurements on physical, biological and biogeochemical variables and parameters to identify the potential characteristics for biodiversity and carbon production and in particular to identify similarities and differences in ecosystem functioning along the topography and water mass‐related gradients and related to the prevailing sea ice situation during the main melting phase in late spring.

The major driving force for the inhibition of a large biological production within the sea‐ice in spring was the heavy snow pack. Thus, only towards the end of the cruise, after internal sea ice melting, an increase of the sea‐ice algae biomass and primary production was observed. At stations with considerable inflow of Atlantic water, particularly on the shallow shelf stations, nutrients were supplied up to the surface layers resulting in a large diatom bloom mainly consisting of various Thalassiosira and Chaetoceros species. In the Sophia Basin, the sampling occurred during the time of strong seasonal sea ice melting, matched with Atlantic water inflow. In this hydrographic regime, characterized by the underlying Atlantic water core, diatoms were replaced by large colonies of Phaeocystis, despite the availability of dissolved silicate. This station was further characterized by the highest bacterial production in the surface waters. In contrast, the ice covered Yermak plateau, was characterized by low standing stocks and productivity. The current data set will be used to improve the understanding of ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycles in the hitherto rarely known transition phase from spring to summer and to elucidate environmental preconditions for productivity in the various geographical settings to improve predictions of the potential annual primary production in a future ice‐free Arctic Ocean.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 37 | Page Oral presentations

Vertical nitrate fluxes as a framework for Arctic Ocean primary production

Achim Randelhoff 1, Arild Sundfjord 2, Ilker Fer 3, Marit Reigstad 4, Jean‐Éric Tremblay 5, John D. Guthrie 6

1University of Tromsø & Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 3Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, and Bjerknes Research Centre, Norway, 4University of Tromsø, Norway, 5Québec‐Ocean and Takuvik, Université Laval, Canada, 6Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington, USA

Owing to the ice cover and weak turbulent mixing, both nutrients and light are scarce in the Arctic Ocean. Therefore the Arctic Ocean is regarded as unproductive. However, spatial patterns in the limiting factors exist, and the continental shelves where nutrient‐rich Pacific or Atlantic water flows into the Arctic are often seen as future hotspots for increases in primary production. Intense ice melt in summer around the margins of the ice pack leads to strong seasonal stratification that can trigger algal blooms, but also restricts nutrient supply from below.

General circulation‐biogeochemical models fundamentally disagree about the future of Arctic marine primary production due to different representations of vertical mixing processes. Constraining the vertical fluxes of nutrients and organic matter offers the chance to disentangle the imbalance between vertical supply of nutrients and primary production that leads to the large discrepancies in upper ocean nutrient inventories frequently observed in coupled biogeochemical models. In addition, nitrate fluxes give direct access to seasonal and annual integrals of nutrient fluxes and thus key terms of budgets in the nutrient cycle.

Turbulent microstructure and high‐resolution nitrate concentration data were collected in the Fram Strait‐Barents shelf slope‐western Nansen Basin area during 2012‐2015 using ice drift camps, vessel‐ based surveys and a mooring, covering all seasons. Combining these with central Arctic Ocean data from the North Pole Environmental Observatory and the Beaufort Gyre Exploration Project, we are now able to quantify the nitrate supply to the photic zone both in the central Arctic (on average Redfield‐equivalent to around 3‐‐6 mg C/m²/d) and the seasonal ice zone (Redfield‐equivalent to e.g. 25‐‐60 mg C/m²/d in the Atlantic sector during the summer months). Interestingly, given plausible trends in freshwater runoff and stratification from a climate model, end‐of‐century increases in the western Nansen Basin might be balanced by decreases in the rest of the central Arctic, leading to a negligible net change in nitrate supply over the deep basins. On the relatively productive shelves, fall and winter mixing accounts for the bulk of the net community production, although sea ice melt couples the annual nutrient budget to the light input via the seasonal pycnocline.

Increases in Arctic marine primary production, observed by remote sensing and predicted on theoretical grounds, are therefore most likely due to enhanced regeneration of available nutrients and thus not available to vertical export or harvest by higher trophic levels.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 38 | Page Oral presentations

From light to dark and shallow to deep: Metagenomic analysis of total virus assemblages from arctic seawater provides a first glance of season‐ and depth‐driven virus diversity and dynamics

Jessica Louise Ray 1, François Enault 2, Torill Vik Johannessen 3, Gunnar Bratbak 3, Aud Larsen 1, Ruth‐Anne Sandaa 3

1Uni Research Environment, Norway, 2Université Blaise Pascal, France, 3University of Bergen, Norway

The enormous contrasts in light and seasonal productivity in high‐latitude pelagic marine environments bespeaks an environment in which microorganisms must adapt to extremes in light and productivity. As important regulators of host diversity and nutrient recycling, viruses are critical components of the marine environment and the marine food web. The interdependence of viruses on the hosts they infect suggests that virus assemblages in high‐ latitude marine biomes may vary in step with season‐ and depth‐driven variation in host populations. Furthermore, the extreme nature of the Arctic biome may house previously undescribed viral diversity. In order to survey of Arctic marine virus assemblages, we conducted research cruises to the west and north of Svalbard across one calendar year, sampling at depths from surface to 1000m. We extracted total nucleic acids from virus concentrates prepared from 50L of tangential flow‐concentrated 0.45 or 0.2 µm‐filtered seawater fractions. RNA and ssDNA virus genomes were converted to dsDNA using a combination of reverse transcription and second‐strand synthesis. Total libraries, potentially representing all combinations of single‐stranded or double‐stranded and DNA or RNA virus genomes, were then amplified using random PCR and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq v3 PE300. Virus metagenomes were analyzed using both MG‐RAST and by manual quality‐ trimming and assembly followed by analysis using the MetaVir2 platform. Preliminary taxonomic analysis of virus metagenomes suggests a high diversity of virus genome types, including a predominance of dsDNA and ssDNA genomes and a lesser contribution from RNA virus genomes. We observed large functional diversity in metagenomes, with an indication of depth‐dependence on functional repertoire. Assembly of virus metagenomes resulted in the generation of almost entirely contigs < 5 kb in length, indicative of considerable genetic diversity. Exploration of links between total virus diversity and environmental drivers (light and depth) in this extreme marine habitat stand to enrich our understanding of this poorly accessible and underexplored marine biome.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 39 | Page Oral presentations

Bloom stage characteristics in an Atlantic‐influenced Arctic marine ecosystem

Marit Reigstad 1, Lena Seuthe 1, Ingrid Ellingsen 2, Maria Lund Paulsen 3, Carlos Duarte 4, Kalle Olli 5, Svein Kristiansen 1, Patricia Matrai 6, Achim Randelhoff 1, Marina Sanz‐Martín 7, Camilla Svensen 1, Jean‐Eríc Tremblay 8, Maria Vernet 9, Wiktor Jósef 10

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2SINTEF, Norway, 3University of Bergen, Norway, 4King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, 5University of Tartu, Estonia, 6Bigelow laboratory for Ocean Sciences, USA, 7IMEDEA, Spain, 8University of Laval, Canada, 9Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA, 10IO PAS, Poland

Understanding of environmental factors influencing the production and flow of energy through the pelagic food web, as well as characterization of different modes in the seasonal productive cycle, are fundamental tools for monitoring and predicting potential future changes in Arctic marine ecosystems. The aim of the present investigation was therefore to describe bloom and regenerative phases of the productive cycle in the Atlantic gateway to the Arctic Ocean, and to isolate the most important bloom indicators useful for future studies. A suite of characteristics, including physical‐, biogeochemical‐, and biological components, were evaluated for six process stations in May and August in the seasonal ice zone northwest of Svalbard. The spring bloom was initiated off‐shelf in May, and reached the shelf later on. Size‐fractionated Chl a and the f‐ratio (ratio of new‐ to total production) proved to be better indicators of the bloom stage than total Chl a concentrations and total primary production rates in this region. The physical structure of the water masses, as well as grazing impact, provided important explanatory factors. An experimental exclusion of grazers >90 µm resulted in an explosive bloom development in which all nutrients were consumed, and Chl a concentrations ‐ twice those obtained in in‐situ ‐ developed within a week, indicating the importance of top‐down regulation. To evaluate how the observed patterns and characteristics compare to a continuous bloom development, a simulation of the phytoplankton bloom and grazer development was performed using the physical‐ biological SINMOD model. The results of the investigation improve a) our ability to identify the bloom stages in the seasonal ice zone of this region, b) our understanding of potential changes in carbon flow resulting from changes in the relative importance of new‐ versus regenerated production, and c) our knowledge on how well model simulations and observations compare.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 40 | Page Oral presentations

ARCTOS ‐ The Arctic Marine Ecosystem Research Network

ARCTOS Research Network

UiT, Norway

The Arctic Marine Ecosystem Research Network (ARCTOS network) was established in 2002 after an initiative of researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the University Centre in Svalbard and Akvaplan‐Niva. Later the Institute of Marine Research and Nord University joined and together they comprise the six basic ARCTOS institutions.

ARCTOS combines the expertise of north Norwegian and international institutions to achieve an integrated view of Arctic ecosystems, both locally and with a view across the Arctic. Investigations of biological, physical, and chemical drivers provide a holistic approach to marine ecosystems and across the food chain. In this way, we address critical scientific and management questions related to biodiversity, ecological processes, impacts of climate change, human induced and natural variability, system sensitivity and resilience. State‐of‐ the‐art research tools, modelling platforms scaled to a variety of levels and processes, and modern infrastructure provide a strong foundation for basic research and student training. ARCTOS has grown considerably since its founding. It is now nationally and internationally recognised in the science community, as well as in industry circles, as a source of high‐ quality basic and applied research in Arctic marine ecology.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 41 | Page Oral presentations

Climate‐driven regime shifts in arctic marine benthos: confronting observations with a mechanistic competition model

Kim Scherrer 1, Raul Primicerio 1, Susanne Kortsch 1, Øystein Varpe 2, Gesa Weyhenmeyer 3, Bjørn Gulliksen 1

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway, 3Uppsala University, Sweden

In the Arctic, rapidly increasing temperatures and the accompanying change in light regime due to decreasing sea ice cover greatly alters marine ecosystems. An increase in marine primary production is expected as a response to warming, and in some shallow sea‐floor communities this change has already manifested as abrupt regime shifts from calcareous algae‐dominated states to states with high macroalgal abundance. In this study, we developed a mechanistic competition model of algal growth to unravel the effects of light and temperature on benthic community structure, in particular on the dominance of red calcareous algae over macroalgal fronds. We show that light is the primary driver for macroalgal expansion and most likely the trigger for abrupt shifts in arctic marine benthos through the non‐linear increase of annual light on the seafloor that accompanies a prolonged ice‐free season at high latitudes, the physiological threshold effect of light on algal growth, and through the disparity in the light requirements of calcareous algae and macroalgae. According to the model, rapid community shifts are less likely if calcareous algae are good space competitors, as the community then gradually enters states of stable coexistence. However, lower competitive ability of calcareous algae opens up for sudden shifts between the calcareous algae‐dominated and macroalgae dominated states. Higher water temperatures enhance this condition and raise the threshold for macroalgal takeover. Thus, while light‐driven regime shifts are most likely reversible, the resilience of the community states may change with continuing warming. This calls for further investigations of other factors affecting light, such as water turbidity, and of the impact of climate change on competitive interactions among species. Integration of these aspects in the modelling framework that we presented here would provide a promising basis for predicting the extent of the ongoing borealisation of arctic rocky‐bottom communities.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 42 | Page Oral presentations

Spatial analysis of Arctic shelf cold seeps: community structure, animal distributions, habitat mapping and links to non‐seep environments

Arunima Sen 1, Emmelie Åström 1, Michael Carroll 2, JoLynn Carroll 2

1CAGE – Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Norway, 2CAGE – Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate and Akvaplan‐niva, FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate, Norway

Gas hydrate pingos and sea floor craters associated with sub‐seabed methane release have been identified in the western and central Barents Sea at depths of about 300 to 400 m. We used a remotely operated vehicle and towed camera to image the cold seep communities around these structures in detail for the first time, and georeferenced photomosaics were used to identify and map distributions of the constituent substrates and faunal groups. Our results are one of the first to study and characterize Artic shelf cold seep communities in detail. The major substrate and habitat types found at these sites were bacterial mats, soft sediment and carbonate concretions, which are similar to what has been observed in a number of cold seeps around the world. However, the megafaunal communities were quite distinct. The dominant chemosynthetic animal group in these communities are siboglinid polychaetes ‐ as opposed to vestimentiferan tubeworms and bivalves, which often dominate seep systems at lower latitudes. The distinctiveness of Arctic cold seep communities could be the result of very specific environmental factors. Carbonate concretions were heavily colonized by various sponge, hydroid and anemone species. A large number of commercially important species were also seen, which is unique for cold seeps. These previously undocumented biological associations and interactions within cold seep environments highlight the connectivity between chemosynthetic and photosynthetic food webs within the Arctic ecosystem. Furthermore, invasive species were also seen at the study sites, which means that Arctic cold seep communities are likely to be affected by the warming induced northward expansion of certain animal groups.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 43 | Page Oral presentations

Production and fate of organic carbon and nitrogen within the Atlantic gateway to the Arctic Ocean

Lena Seuthe 1, Maria Lund Paulsen 2, Marit Reigstad 1, Aud Larsen 3, Mattias R. Cape 4, Maria Vernet 5

1UiT‐The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2University of Bergen, Norway, 3Uni Research, Norway, 4Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, 5Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA

Phytoplankton produce organic matter (OM) both in particulate and dissolved form. The partitioning of OM between these two phases has consequences for the way OM is consumed, accumulated and exported in marine systems. Here we investigate a) the partitioning of primary production between its particulate (PPpart) and dissolved (PPdiss) phase during the spring bloom and under summer post‐ bloom conditions, as well as b) the seasonal change in concentration of particulate and dissolved organic matter and the respective C/N composition within the Atlantic water inflow to the Arctic Ocean northwest of Svalbard. The percent PPdiss of total primary production (PPdiss + PPpart) was on average 32 % higher during bloom condition than later in the summer (average 19 %). A significant relationship was found between PPdiss and PPpart in spring, but not in summer, suggesting that physiologically driven release from vital phytoplankton was the dominating mechanism of dissolved OM (DOM) production in spring, while trophic interactions may have been more important during summer. PPdiss exceeded bacterial carbon demand (BCD) from March onwards, allowing for an accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the water column early in the season. Similarly, the accumulation of particulate OM (POM) was tightly coupled to the build‐ up of phytoplankton from winter to spring, with a C/N ratio close to that of Redfield. Sinking POM showed elevated C/N ratios at times, suggesting retention of nitrogen in the productive surface layer. The C/N ratio of DOM was more variable over the year than that of POM, with C/N ratios far above Redfield in spring and below Redfield in summer, reflecting different timing in the accumulation of DOC and DON (dissolved organic nitrogen). The potential reasons for this offset in accumulation are discussed. The results demonstrate that the change in ecosystem structure and function from spring to summer is associated with changes in C/N ratios of the dissolved, suspended and sinking OM. The net effect is one of nitrogen retention in the upper water column.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 44 | Page Oral presentations

Seasonal shift of zooplankton species related to different productivity regimes in the Atlantic inflow north of Svalbard

Camilla Svensen 1, Elisabeth Halvorsen 1, Kasia Dmoch 2, Lena Seuthe 1, Maria Vernet 3, Marina Sans‐Martín 4, Carlos Duarte 5

1UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2Institute of Oceanology, Poland, 3University of California San Diego, USA, 4University of Barcelona, Spain, 5King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia

We investigated zooplankton composition and environmental parameters at seven stations in the dynamic area of the Atlantic Inflow north of Svalbard, in May and August 2014. Our main objective was to study the seasonal shift in zooplankton composition in relation to changes in biological and physical rates in the upper water column (0‐100 m). Special emphasis was taken to capture the full range of zooplankton sizes, from copepod nauplii to adult Calanus spp. Therefore we sampled zooplankton with both a multinet and large water bottles. We found a strong seasonal signal in zooplankton composition. In May, the community was numerically dominated by Calanus spp. nauplii, reaching concentrations of 30 000 ind m‐3 in the upper 50 m. In August, the zooplankton community had shifted towards a complete dominance of Oithona similis copepodites and nauplii, with a total abundance up to 60 000 ind m‐3 in the upper 50 m. The numerical ratio of nauplii:females was 100‐times higher for Calanus spp. than for O. similis, and relatively stable across stations and seasons, reflecting differences in reproductive strategies. Changes in the copepod community observed in May and August are interpreted in light of a strong seasonal shift in the plankton productivity regime. In May, the system was characterised by high nutrient concentrations, dominance of large autotrophs, high primary production and low community respiration rates. In contrast, regenerated nutrients, low primary production and high community respiration rates was found in August. By combining high‐resolution data on zooplankton composition with detailed information on physical and biological processes, we provide new knowledge on the structure and function of Arctic zooplankton communities and on their coupling to different productivity regimes.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 45 | Page Oral presentations

Microbial food web structure in a changing Arctic

Tatiana M. Tsagaraki 1, Jorun K. Egge 1, Gunnar Bratbak 1, Øystein Leiknes 2, T. Frede Thingstad 1, Lise Øvreås 1, Ruth‐Anne Sandaa 1, Elzbieta A. Petelenz‐Kurdziel 1, Maria Lund Paulsen 1, Colin A. Stedmon 3, Svein Norland 1, Mikal Heldal 1, Aud Larsen 4

1University of Bergen, Norway, 2Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, 3Technical University of Denmark, Denmark, 4Uni Research Environment, Norway

Predicting implications of change in the Arctic requires an understanding of fundamental components of the ecosystem. From our previous work in the Arctic, our working hypothesis is that bacterial consumption of organic carbon is strongly dependent on the standing stock of copepods. The availability of organic substrates and changes in predator pressure are the two major components of this hypothesis, both projected to change the former due to ice melting and riverine input, and the later due to changing migration/advection patterns.

We conducted a mesocosm experiment in Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, designed to explore how these drivers influence community dynamics and nutrient pathways. Ten units, moored in situ at Kongsfjorden, formed two five‐point gradients, differing in zooplankton abundance (removal of zooplankton vs addition of 5 copepods L‐1) but identical in their gradient of organic carbon addition (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3X Redfield). Inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and silicate were added daily to all tanks. Briefly, we expected a cascading effect in the high grazing tanks resulting in less bacteria and an increase in ciliates and diatoms where the zooplankton was removed. In both scenarios, the competition for mineral nutrient resources would differ depending on the levels of carbon addition.

Preliminary results show that effects of the zooplankton treatment were more readily observable. The copepod‐added mesocosms had low ciliate abundance and vice versa. Although total organic carbon (TOC) increased along the carbon gradients in both systems, bacterial abundance appeared more strongly connected to copepod abundance than organic carbon levels. Less bacteria were observed in the high zooplankton tanks. Net community production was also more related to copepod abundance than organic carbon addition, with a more net autotrophic system in high zooplankton. Elemental composition revealed that the Mg: Na ratio, used as a proxy for transitions between C‐limited and mineral nutrient‐ limited bacterial growth in surface waters, increased when copepod grazing pressure was low, suggesting bacteria became C‐limited in those conditions. In the high zooplankton mesocosms, community elemental composition showed a tighter coupling between nutrients, suggesting a tendency towards limitation. Although the effects of the carbon gradient are, at present, less apparent, preliminary data of bacterial and virus diversity appear to differ corresponding to the carbon gradient. The current work supports the idea that two seemingly unrelated aspects of the Arctic Ocean, both possibly changing ‐ due to increased DOC input and changed seasonal migration/ advection patterns of copepods –are strongly connected.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 46 | Page Oral presentations

Microbial eukaryotes in a high‐Arctic fjord ‐‐ does "Atlantification" matter? A 3 year high‐ resolution seasonal study from Isfjorden, Svalbard.

Anna Vader 1, Ragnheid Skogseth 1, Ida Kessel Nordgård 1, Alison C Cleary 2, Tove M Gabrielsen 1

1University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, 2MBA Plymouth, UK

Increased heat flux from the warm and saline West Spitsbergen Current, as well as more frequent and prolonged flooding events of Atlantic Water (AW) into many Spitsbergen fjords are leading to a change from predominantly Arctic to more Atlantic conditions. This has hindered sea ice formation and led to a range expansion of boreal species (e.g. mackerel and herring) into Svalbard Waters. Microbial eukaryotes are essential to the functioning of the ecosystem, acting as primary producers, consumers and decomposers. Thus, environmental perturbations that alter their communities may influence the entire ecosystem. Even so, crucial information regarding who these organisms are and how they respond to changes in their environment is lacking. To study interannual variation and the potential effects of “Atlantification”, a long‐term marine sampling station has been established in Isfjorden‐ Adventfjorden (IsA station), West Spitsbergen. We here present 3 years of high‐resolution data (daily to monthly) obtained from December 2011 to November 2014, including hydrography (CTD casts and time series from moorings), nutrients, photosynthetic biomass, enumeration of dominant groups (flow cytometry) and community composition of microbial eukaryotes (size fraction 0.45 – 10 µm, based on Illumina tag sequencing of 18S rDNA and rRNA). The three years differed greatly in hydrographic conditions; 2013 showed a typical cold Arctic state, 2014 displayed a warmer and more saline Atlantic state, and 2012 revealed switches between Arctic and Atlantic states, where the cooling in winter was disrupted several times by inflow of warm and saline AW. This interannual variability in hydrography was due to a combination of atmospheric forcing on the shelf, shelf water properties and internal processes in Isfjorden. The timing and magnitude of the spring bloom also varied between the years, with maxima on April 24th in 2013 (15 µg/L), May 9th in 2012 (8 µg/L) and June 11th in 2014 (8 µg/L). The community composition of the microbial eukaryotes displayed strong seasonality with large shifts during spring and summer, when also interannual differences were most apparent. However, certain patterns were consistent, e.g. a dominance of the Arctic mamiellophyte Micromonas preceding the main spring bloom. During winter, the communities were relatively stable, with a dominance of heterotrophic taxa belonging to Dinophyceae, Marine Alveolates (MALV) and Marine Stramenopiles (MAST). Interestingly, despite large interannual hydrographical differences, highly similar communities were observed during allsampled winters, suggesting resilience in the system.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 47 | Page Oral presentations

Importance of phytoplankton advection in the Atlantic Water Inflow to the Arctic Ocean

Maria Vernet 1, Ingrid H. Ellingsen 2, Dag Slagstad 2, Lena Seuthe 3, Mattias R. Cape 4, Patricia A. Matrai 5

1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA, 2SINTEF, Norway, 3The Arctic University of Norway ‐ Tromsø, 4Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, USA, 5Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science, USA

Northwards flowing Atlantic waters transport heat, nutrients, and organic carbon in the form of living phytoplankton and zooplankton into the eastern Greenland Sea and Fram Strait. Because of this advection of Atlantic water, a difference in the balance of in situ and advected primary production is found along the Atlantic Water Inflow, resulting in two contrasting domains in phytoplankton and zooplankton production in the waters west and north of the Svalbard Archipelago. We examine the balance between in situ and advected primary production along this Arctic pathway by using the physical‐biological coupled SINMOD model. The model results show that in situ primary production along the Atlantic Water inflow is supported principally by advection of phytoplankton biomass. Export of phytoplankton from the Norwegian Sea, combined with in situ processes, maintains phytoplankton productivity in the West Spitsbergen Current. Advection is 5‐50 times higher than the biomass resulting from in situ production, with minimum contribution in June at the time of maximum seasonal production. When entering the Arctic Ocean, advection of phytoplankton and in situ productivity decrease. According to model results, the Norwegian Sea is a bottom‐up system, exporting excess production to the North during the growth season (April to September); in contrast, the current west of Spitsbergen is a top‐down system (net consumption). Further north, decrease in grazing allows the region North of Svalbard to be in balance. An increase of approximately 20% in Gross Primary Production is needed to balance the annual productivity deficit in the West Spitsbergen Current. As the sea ice reduces its annual extent and warmer waters enter the Arctic, characteristics of the ice‐free West Spitsbergen Current could extend net heterotrophy North of Svalbard.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 48 | Page Oral presentations

Linking bacterial diversity to food web transfer efficiency, or how increased river run‐off in the Arctic may reduce production at higher trophic levels

Selina Våge, Bernadette Pree, T Frede Thingstad

University of Bergen, Norway

As mediators of life and death, viruses are fundamental in marine ecosystem functioning. They stimulate microbial productivity by shunting biomass to the dissolved matter pool, thereby reducing food web transfer efficiency, and they kill competitors, paving the way for coexistence and diversity among marine microorganisms. We used a microbial food web model that captures dynamics in Arctic and temperate mesocosm perturbation experiments to shed light on how virus‐mediated control inside the bacterial community may be linked to factors controlling the bacterial community externally. The model predicts that transfer of bacterial production to higher trophic levels through the grazer food chain is tightly linked to the diversity in bacterial growth rates. The bacterial growth rate spectrum itself is linked to limiting resource concentrations, which are affected by climate change. Specifically, the presented framework predicts that transfer efficiency of bacterial production to higher trophic levels may diminish in the Arctic due to increased river run‐off. We compare model predictions of microbial food web structure and functioning to recent mesocosm perturbation experiments and discuss the validity of the theoretical framework.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 49 | Page Oral presentations

Modelling movements of marine top predators in the Barents Sea as input into risk assessment routines

Jürgen Weissenberger 1, Frank Thomsen 2, Odd Willy Brude 3, Per Fauchald 4, Nils Øien 5

1Statoil ASA, Norway, 2DHI, Denmark, 3DNVGL, Norway, 4NINA, Norway, 5IMR, Norway

The circumpolar ocean is home to a variety of marine mammals and birds that are highly adapted to the special conditions in the Arctic like cold water and the presence of sea ice. The recent changes in the Arctic as a result of a warmer climate, like the retreat of the area covered by sea ice and the increasing influence of warm water from lower latitudes gives reason for concerns how species will adapt to the new conditions. The retreat of ice makes the Arctic Ocean also more accessible for industrial activities and it is predicted that ships traffic and exploration for oil, gas and minerals will increase. Risk assessment on possible impacts of such industrial activities requires a good understanding of the presence of potential vulnerable species. Physical processes described with high temporal and spatial resolution in a hydrodynamic model have been correlated to field observations of top predators in the Barents Sea. These are Brünich’s guillemot (Uria lomvia), common guillemot (Uria aalge), black legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), little auk (Alle alle), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and mink whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Together with species‐specific physiological and behavioural constraints, these environmental correlations were used as input to an individual based model (IBM), used to simulate the movement of individuals and ultimately the spatial distribution of each species. Based on this, we modelled the movements of the top predators (individual birds and mammals) in response to environmental variables using individual based models. The model gives a realistic picture of movement and migration patterns depending on time of the year and the respective metocean situation including ice extensions. It can therefore be used to get information on modelled species presence for areas and time intervals where we do not have direct observations. Furthermore, it can be used as a predictive tool for possible forecasting. We further processed the obtained results into the standard methodology for risk assessment used in Norwegian waters in order to show strengths and weaknesses of this approach.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 50 | Page Oral presentations

Resilience by diversity: Large intraspecific variability in climate change responses of an Arctic diatom

Klara Wolf, Clara Hoppe, Björn Rost

Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute, Germany

Primary productivity in the Arctic Ocean is vastly driven by single‐celled phytoplankton. Within a comparably short growing season, they provide most of the carbon and energy for higher trophic levels and simultaneously influence biogeochemical cycles and the global climate. With the Arctic Ocean being one of the few regions that are expected to increase their productivity with future global change, it is especially important to understand how phytoplankton there is going to adapt. The potential for this adaptation to future climate change is often extrapolated from studies using single strains of a representative species that were cultured in laboratories for years. Since several decades, however, it is known that phytoplankton species and even local populations can exhibit large intraspecific diversity. During a field campaign on Svalbard, we isolated different strains of the Arctic diatom Thalassiosira hyalina from community incubations, which resembled present and future climate conditions. We then exposed these freshly isolated monocultures again to a matrix of CO2 and temperature. The results revealed that even within a single species, response patterns can differ greatly, comparable to variations seen between diatom species. Moreover, while only minor reactions of the communities were observed, the strain responses corresponded strongly with the previous selection environment. A strain isolated from future‐like treatments, for instance, had its growth optimum at a higher temperature and pCO2 than another strain isolated from more present‐like conditions. This suggests that intraspecific variability and the selection between coexisting ecotypes may be an underestimated source of species’ plasticity under changing environmental conditions and could ‘buffer’ functional species shifts. Adaptation of phytoplankton assemblages may therefore occur also by selection within rather than only between species, and species‐wide inferences from single strain experiments should be handled with great care.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 51 | Page Oral presentations

Pushing back the Frontiers The Arctic Blue Economy: Trends, Opportunities, and Risks

Tom Arnbom 1, Anne Mette Erlandsson 1, Alan Atkisson 2

1WWF Sweden, Sweden, 2AtKisson Group, Sweden

As climate change and the advance of technology continue to make the Arctic more accessible, an economic transformation is already under way. Our generation is witnessing the opening of an entire sea for development, and the process appears to be accelerating. How fast is this change actually happening? How will the economic transformation be managed? And how can we ensure that the Arctic’s irreplaceable resources will be well stewarded, and its natural wonders and essential ecosystems well protected?

The concept of a sustainable Blue Economy — economic activity focused on the oceans and seas — has risen quickly across the globe. Governments and private sector actors have moved swiftly to set in place new Blue Economy goals, policies, and incentives for investment. Now, before the expected rapid upscaling of such activity happens in the Arctic, is the time to ask this question: what would a sustainable Blue Economy look like?

This new report from WWF will bring together data and trend analysis relevant to the Blue Economy from the entire Arctic region, covering shipping, fishing, tourism, and other important sectors — including the unique relationship of the Arctic’s indigenous peoples to the resources on which they depend.

The report will also consider these economic trends and expectations in the light of Arctic ecosystems, which are indisputably unique, as well as uniquely threatened. How much growth in the Blue Economy can those ecosystems withstand, and of what kind?

The Arctic is unique, but it does not stand apart. It is critically interlinked with other global ecosystems. Its Blue Economy is part of the global economy. And many of the people living in the region also face serious development challenges. For all these reasons, the Arctic Blue Economy must also work to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on SDG 14 (“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”), but with the fully integrated environmental, social, and economic approach of the SDGs held firmly in mind.

WWF has previously introduced a set of “Principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy,” through a global consultation process. The Principles are harmonized with the SDGs, as well as other global agreements and best practices on sustainable development. This report will also look at how the Principles ‐ which aim to steer us toward a future of long‐term prosperity, social wellbeing, and ecosystem health ‐ should be applied in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 52 | Page Oral presentations

Seabed methane emissions supports a biological oasis at a deep high‐Arctic cold seep, 79°N

Emmelie Åström 1, Michael L. Carroll 1, William G Ambrose 2, Anna Silyakova 1, JoLynn Carroll 1

1CAGE ‐ Centre for Arctic Gas hydrate, Environment and Climate, Department of Geology, UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway,, Norway, 2Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 04240, USA, USA

Cold seeps are locations where hydrocarbons escape from the seafloor, fuelling chemoautotrophic production that can support unique macrofaunal communities via mutualistic relationships or trophic interactions, and forming additional hard bottom substrate through carbonate outcrops. This provides a heterogeneous environment for deep‐sea organisms, with the potential for increased biodiversity and biomass in an otherwise homogenous, food‐limited habitat. We combined analyses of quantitative infaunal benthic faunal samples with seafloor photographs from an active, seeping pockmark at Vestnesa Ridge (1200 m depth) west of Svalbard to examine macro‐ and megafauna community structure and biodiversity in a high‐Arctic cold seep. Quantitative data on community parameters from the active pockmarks at Vestnesa were compared with samples from the inactive Svyatogor Ridge. Methane concentrations in the bottom water and sediments at Vestnesa were highly elevated (up to 100x) compared to the inactive site, where background values were observed. Infaunal community parameters including abundance, species richness, diversity and biomass were all significantly higher at Vestnesa compared to the inactive control.

Seabed photos from Vestnesa pockmarks reveal a diverse megafaunal association whose characteristics vary in relation to specific cold seep features such as carbonate crusts and microbial mats. Our observations indicate that chemoautotrophic production enhances deep‐sea infaunal diversity and that seafloor methane seepage impacts the megafaunal composition at Vestnesa Ridge. Focused methane emissions support a heterogeneous deep‐ sea habitat for chemo‐associated organisms co‐occurring with heterotrophic conventional fauna in a high‐Arctic methane seep.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 53 | Page Oral presentations

Insights on holistic plankton size structure of Isfjorden by exploiting optical and traditional approaches

Katarzyna Błachowiak‐Samołyk, Anna Maria Kubiszyn, Sławomir Sagan, Józef Wiktor, Rafał Boehnke, Emilia Trudnowska

Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Global warming will most probably lead to negative alteration in the size structure of plankton communities in the Arctic, which will be manifested in increased contribution of small sized taxa. Contrary to the majority of previous plankton studies in the Arctic waters, which were concentrated on traditionally comprehended, separately investigated phyto‐ and mesozooplankton, in this study we assessed the entire plankton community inhabited different physical regimes of the largest but still scarcely described Spitsbergen fjord. Our investigations were conducted by using the innovative and conventional methods in four consecutive summers (2013‐2016) along 60 km transect crossing waters of strong environmental gradient. Starting from Billefjorden – the deepest, innermost part of Isfjorden, bounded with glacier branches, freshened by meltwaters highly loaded with suspended mineral particles, through central part up to Adventfjorden strongly influenced by Atlantic water inflow. The water samples for chlorophyll a concentrations, nano‐ and microplanktonic protists taxonomic composition and abundance were taken by Niskin bottles while samples for mesozooplankton enumeration and taxonomy were collected with plankton nets at 3 stations located along the transect of automatic optical measurements. Full particle‐size structure (between 1 µm to 10 mm) was measured for the first time in combination of Laser In‐Situ Scattering, Transmissometry (LISST‐100x) and Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC). The obtained data demonstrated a good agreement between the LISST and LOPC measurements. Moreover, application of combined methods allowed for the integration of optical instrument‐derived data with those obtained with classical microscopy techniques. Additionally, the simultaneous investigation of vertical distribution of different plankton size fractions allowed us to argue about their relative roles in various layers of Isfjorden pelagial. Different environmental conditions faced during our survey; with rapid melting and increased Atlantic water inflow enable us to improve the overall knowledge on the possible effects of various hydrographical scenarios on restructuring of different plankton size assemblages in the high Arctic fjord.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 54 | Page Oral presentations

Long‐lived bivalve sclerochronology in environmental baseline monitoring

Juliane Steinhardt 1, Lars Beierlein 1, Paul Butler 2, Michael L. Carroll 3, John Hartley 1

1Hartley Anderson Limited, UK, 2School of Ocean Science, Bangor University, UK, 3Akvaplan‐ Niva, FRAM – High North Centre for Climate and the Environment, Tromsø, Norway, Norway

Assessments of the impact of human activities on the marine environment are typically hindered by limited quantification of the baseline conditions and their relevant scales of natural variability. Baselines (as defined in Environmental Impact Assessments) typically reflect the status of the environment and its variability drawn from published literature and augmented with some short term site specific characterisation. Consequently, it can be difficult to determine whether a change in the environment subsequent to industrial activity is within or outside the range of natural background variability. An innovative approach that shows some promise in overcoming the limitations of traditional baseline monitoring methodology involves the analysis of shell material (sclerochronology) from molluscs living in potentially affected areas. Bivalves especially can be effective biomonitors of their environment over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. A rapidly expanding body of research has established that numerous characteristics of the environment can be reflected in morphological and geochemical properties of the carbonate material in bivalve shells, as well as in functional responses such as growth rates. In addition, the annual banding pattern in shells can provide an absolute chronometer of environmental variability and/or industrial effects. Further, some species of very long‐lived bivalves can be crossdated back in time, like trees, by comparing these annual banding patterns in their shells. It is therefore feasible to develop extended time series of certain marine environmental variables that can provide important insights into long temporal scales of baseline variability. Here we present recent innovative work on the shell structure, morphology and geochemistry of bivalves and conclude that they have substantial potential for use as monitors of environmental variability and the effects of pollutants and disturbance.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 55 | Page Oral presentations

The study of the impact of climatic and geographical conditions on the health of the population of the Arctic regions of Russia

Natalia Bobyreva

Northern State Medical University, Russia

The study of the impact of climatic and geographical conditions on the preservation of physical health is an urgent problem, as is currently occurring climate change and weather, increasing number of weather anomalies, entailing a number of poorly understood phenomena. The negative impact of climate change on the diverse and in recent years, public health, they are considered as one of the major negative factors, along with the traditional factors of the industrial age as the risk of pollution of air and drinking water, smoking, drugs, and others. These problems are discussed in a separate international report, and questions the impact of climate change on human health have become one of the main areas of northern medicine. In this regard, we have carried out research work in the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) in the framework of the WHO, "The impact of climate change on human health: assessment of adaptation possibilities in the north of the Russian Federation" (2010‐2012).

The purpose of research is the study of vulnerability markers of the Arkhangelsk region and Nenets Autonomous District under the influence of climate change. Climate change, in contrast to the weather are more lasting in nature, and therefore it was necessary to study the dynamics of changes in these phenomena and the consequences of this impact for several years. The complexity of this study is its retrospective nature, which leads to the choice of the markers themselves and their temporal dynamics of learning. The study included several stages; the study of climate and weather changes in the Arkhangelsk region and Nenets Autonomous District for two hundred, and a hundred years; vulnerability markers for the ten‐year period and their relationship. As a marker of vulnerability of the population, impacts of climate change were considered:

1 block: changes in the environment: the state of permafrost, the spread of anthrax.

2 block: changes in the health status and life of different groups of the population: morbidity (including infectious) alien and indigenous mortality uptake of emergency medical care.

In the past 10 years, a survey was conducted of indigenous and alien population of the NAO on parasitic diseases.

The survey information was obtained on the high level of prevalence population NAO parasitic infestations. These figures exceed the figures of the Russian Federation of 30 times or more.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 56 | Page Oral presentations

Lipid turnover reflects life‐cycle strategies of small‐sized Arctic copepods

Lauris Boissonnot 1, Barbara Niehoff 2, Wilhelm Hagen 3, Janne E. Søreide 4, Martin Graeve 2

1Alfred Wegener Institute (and University Centre in Svalbard, Germany, 2Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany, 3University of Bremen, Germany, 4University Centre in Svalbard, Norway

We aimed at understanding how life cycle strategies of the primarily herbivorous Pseudocalanus minutus and the omnivorous Oithona similis are reflected by their lipid carbon turnover capacities. The copepods were collected in Billefjorden, Svalbard, and fed with 13C labelled flagellates and diatoms during three weeks. Fatty acid and fatty alcohol compositions were determined by gas chromatography, 13C incorporation was monitored using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Maximum lipid turnover occurred in P. minutus, which exchanged 54.4% of total lipid, whereas 9.4% were exchanged in O. similis. In P. minutus, the diatom markers 16:1(n‐7), 16:2(n‐4) and 16:3(n‐4) were almost completely renewed from the diet within 21 days, while 15% of the flagellate markers 18:2(n‐6), 18:3(n‐ 3) and 18:4(n‐3) were exchanged. In O. similis, 15% of both flagellate and diatom markers were renewed. P. minutus exhibited typical physiological adaptations of high‐latitude herbivorous copepod species, with a very high lipid turnover rate and the ability to integrate fatty acids more rapidly from diatoms than from flagellates. O. similis depended much less on lipid reserves and had a lower lipid turnover rate, but was able to ingest and/or assimilate lipids with the same intensity from various food sources, to sustain shorter periods of food shortage.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 57 | Page Oral presentations

Investigation of the climate variability of northward flowing water masses of the Faroe Current at the gateway to the Arctic: Contributions from molluscan sclerochronology on the Faroese Shelf *

Fabian Georg Wulf Bonitz, Carin Andersson, Tamara Trofimova

Uni Research, Norway

In this study, we investigate the recent past of northward flowing water masses of the Faroe Current by applying molluscan sclerochronological techniques on the Faroese Shelf. The Faroe Current serves as one of the main inflow branches of warmer water masses into the Arctic regions and therefore strongly influences the climate development in these areas. Thus, highly resolved paleorecords containing information about the climate variability of northward flowing water masses are crucial in order to obtain deeper insights into climate perspectives for the Arctic realm. The shell of the long‐lived bivalve species Arctica islandica provides annually resolved paleorecords because it forms annual growth increments, which can be analysed similarly to tree rings. Climatic and oceanographic changes are recorded population‐wide in the shell`s growth and isotopic composition. Hence, multi‐centennial absolutely dated chronologies can be built by cross‐matching live‐collected and sub‐fossil specimens. This has been done in various locations in the North Atlantic but only sporadically in the surroundings of the Faroe Islands, which are situated in the middle of the Faroe Current. Here, we present the first multi‐centennial absolutely dated chronology from the Faroese Shelf covering the time period from AD 1642 – 2013. The growth indices of the chronology anti‐correlate with April – September sea surface temperatures (SST) for the last 100 years indicating favourable conditions for growth when temperatures are lower. This also suggests that the main growing season of A. islandica around the Faroe Islands occurs in this time period; a hypothesis supported by δ18O‐based temperature reconstructions from growth increments representing the years AD 2001 – 2013. The RBAR, which is an indicator for the signal strength throughout the chronology, shows an inverse relationship with Atlantic Multi‐decadal Oscillation (AMO) data indicating that periods of higher AMO indexes result in a weakened signal strength in the chronology for the same time period. In conclusion, our results suggest that a combination of the growth increment variability and δ18O measurements of the growth increments can provide a tool to obtain information about the year‐to‐year SST variability beyond instrumental observations and the signal strength throughout the chronology may provide information about the timing of major AMO shifts.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 58 | Page Oral presentations

Predicting potential impacts on the North Atlantic cod fishery from petroleum accidents

JoLynn Carroll 1, Frode Vikebø 2, Daniel Howell 2, Ole Jacob Broch 3, Raymond Nepstad 4, Starrlight Augustine 1, Geir Morten Skeie 1, Radovan Bast 5, Jonas Juselius 5

1Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 2Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 3SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, Norway, 4SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Norway, 5UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Fisheries and petroleum resource development are concomitant in some of the world’s most productive continental shelf seas. Much of our understanding of the impacts of oil spills to fisheries and the general health of ecosystems has been acquired from a few major events. It remains a significant challenge to link data on effects of oil on individual organisms, mainly gathered through laboratory experiments, to impacts on the population as a whole. The advanced software tool, SYMBIOSES, was developed in Norway by an international consortium of scientists to improve assessments of environmental impacts linked to oil spill scenarios. The tool allows for impacts on cod larval survival to be traced through the population to observe the effect of oil spills on the overall fish stock. We will present simulation results for oil spill scenarios for a single location on the northern Norwegian continental shelf. These examples demonstrate the utility of predictive ecological models to explore and inform on a key impact factor of oil spills that, in turn, lends valuable support to science informed decision‐making and stakeholder communication.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 59 | Page Oral presentations

Death in the dead of night: High non‐consumptive winter mortality among Arctic zooplankton

Malin Daase 1, Janne Søreide 2

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway

Not all zooplankton are alive in the natural environment and the contribution of dead organisms to the total zooplankton population can be high. Traditionally zooplankton is preserved right after collection without estimating the proportion of dead and living organisms and the contribution of non‐viable individuals to zooplankton populations is therefore not accounted for. Neglecting the contribution of dead organisms can lead to errors when estimating mortality rates and consequently create bias in understanding population dynamics. Sinking carcasses are also a significant contribution to the particular organic carbon flux, but is seldom considered when quantifying the role of zooplankton to the passive carbon flux. Recent observations during the polar night indicate that the contribution of dead zooplankton may be particular high during winter. Here we have estimated the contribution of dead zooplankton to the zooplankton community in five fjords in Svalbard during the polar night (January), in spring (May) and in early autumn (August/September). We used Neutral Red stain that allows identifying in‐situ dead organisms also after samples have been fixed in formalin. The contribution of dead zooplankton was highest in January with 10‐75% of the copepods classified as dead, while the contribution of dead individuals was negligible (Calanus copepods usually decrease drastically through winter and spring. In our study, the contribution of dead individuals varied among locations and among zooplankton species. Species specific and geographical variability are discusses, as well as the role of sinking carcasses in the passive carbon flux.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 60 | Page Oral presentations

Baited camera estimates of local diversity and Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) abundance within the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Brynn Devine, Laura Wheeland, Jonathan Fisher

Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

A baited remote underwater video camera was deployed in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, providing new biological information and the first local density estimates for Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus within data‐poor regions of interest for potential fisheries development, petroleum exploration and/or marine conservation. A total of 29 camera deployments were conducted in July‐September 2015‐2016 during an exploratory fishing cruise aboard the Arctic Fishery Alliance vessel Kiviuq I, with observations occurring in four regions: Admiralty Inlet, southeast McDougall Sound/Barrow Strait, Lancaster Sound, and in eastern Jones Sound in Nunavut, Canada. In total, 11 fish species were attracted to the baited camera, including two elasmobranchs and nine teleosts, with significant differences in assemblages among sites. Comparisons with concurrent fisheries catch data (from whelk pots, shrimp traps) indicate baited cameras are equally capable of detecting the presence of local fish species when deployed over soft, mud bottom. Somniosus microcephalus was the main species to actively feed on the bait and appeared frequently at the baited camera. Abundance estimates for S. microcephalus were calculated from averaged first arrival times per location, and using measures of swimming speed and local current speed estimates. Calculated densities of S. microcephalus were highest at Admiralty Inlet, with abundance 6‐8 times higher, here compared to other sites, and lowest abundance found in the shallow, sub‐ zero temperature waters of southeast McDougall Sound. These baited camera results illustrate the utility of optical technologies to advance understanding of polar marine waters and suggest that the Arctic Bay region may be of particular importance for S. microcephalus, a potentially vulnerable Arctic species.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 61 | Page Oral presentations

Nutrient fluxes in the Arctic Ocean

Ingrid Ellingsen, Dag Slagstad

SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, Norway

The declining summer sea ice in Arctic Ocean (AO) increases light availability for primary producers. Model simulations using the coupled biophysical model system SINMOD shows a future increase in PP in some areas of the AO due to declining sea ice, but also that PP in is largely controlled by nutrient availability in the AO. To better understand the nutrient budget we have analysed horizontal and vertical flux data from SINMOD. From these model data, we calculate the amounts of nutrients entering and leaving the Arctic Ocean. The simulation results will be presented and compared with published estimates calculated from observations. Vertical fluxes vary across the AO and we provide model estimates for different regions. To assess how climate change may impact on nutrient fluxes we will also present budgets from SINMOD runs for different climate change experiments using forcing data from the Max‐Planck‐Institute Earth System Model (MPI‐ESM).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 62 | Page Oral presentations

Opening the Big Black Box: Heterotrophs and parasites dominate the marine microbial eukaryotes during the polar night

Tove M. Gabrielsen 1, Miriam Marquardt 1, Anna Vader 1, Irene Forn Hernan 2, Ramon Massana 2

1UNIS ‐ The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, 2Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Spain

During the light‐limited polar night period, marine systems are driven by heterotrophic processes as phototrophs are in very low abundance. Identifying the organisms responsible for these processes at the bottom of the food web is important to understand the polar night marine systems and their responses to environmental change. In this project, we used Illumina tag sequencing and tyramide signal amplification–fluorescent in situ hybridization (TSA‐ FISH) to identify and quantify microbial eukaryotes in Svalbard Waters during the polar night period. Microbial eukaryotes were sampled from the water column at five locations around Svalbard at 4‐5 depths during two polar night periods (2012‐2013 and 2014) and compared to samples collected at the same stations during fall. Probes targeting the heterotrophic Marine Stramenopiles (MAST clades 1a, 1b, 1c and 7), the dominant parasitoid Marine Alveolates (MALV II) and eukaryotes in general were used to determine the abundances of the respective organism groups. Hydrographical profiles and in situ water environmental conditions were recorded to enable possible identification of environmental drivers of the microbial community compositions. Our results confirmed that total eukaryotic abundances were very low (around 200 cells/ml) with the most dilute samples identified from deep waters (36 cells/ml at 1000 m). The polar night water samples were nevertheless amazingly diverse including representatives of dinoflagellates, katablepharids, picozoans, choanoflagellates, MAST and MALV. The hybridizations showed that heterotrophs of the MAST 7 clade were pronounced at all stations and depths during the winter (3‐18% of total eukaryote cell counts). Also MAST 1a and 1b occurred at all stations, and an OTU assigned to MAST 1a was one of the most abundant OTUs in the Illumina tag library. MALV II also recruited many reads in the Illumina tag library, and represented up to 10% of the cells in deep water based on the TSA‐FISH data. The dominance of marine heterotrophic and parasitic flagellates emphasise the necessity for an improved understanding of the environmental drivers of microbial community change in the dark period.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 63 | Page Oral presentations

New insight regarding vertical migration of a deep scattering layer in the Arctic

Harald Gjøsæter 1, Peter H. Wiebe 2, Egil Ona 1, Tor Knutsen 1, Randi Ingvaldsen 1

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA

Acoustic observations on multiple frequencies by hull mounted equipment during a survey to the west and north of Svalbard during autumn 2015, revealed a deep scattering layer (DSL) at depths ~200‐600m in areas with bottom depths exceeding 600m. During periods of station work when the ship was stationary or moving slowly, the DSL displayed a clear, but limited ascending movement during night time and a descending movement during daytime. The highlight weighted mean depth (WMD) with respect to backscattered energy was statistically deeper than the lowlight WMD for the four periods studied. This behaviour of the DSL was found to be consistent both when the sun was continuously above the horizon and after it started to set on 1 September. The biological composition of the DSL was studied by vertical and oblique hauls with zooplankton nets and pelagic trawls, some of them with an opening/closing mechanism, and by vertical casts with an acoustic probe carrying side‐ looking multi‐frequency echo sounders operating at four frequencies, and a stereo camera system. A preliminary analysis of these data suggests that the DSL mainly consisted of various mesopelagic fishes, large zooplankton like krill, amphipods, and various gelatinous forms.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 64 | Page Oral presentations

Lipid dynamics and enzyme activity of male Calanus spp.

Maja Hatlebakk 1, Janne Søreide 1, Barbara Niehoff 2, Martin Graeve 2

1University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, 2Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany

Even though the genus Calanus is one of the most studied zooplankton taxa in the Arctic, there has been very little focus on the biology and physiology of males. One of the reasons for this is that males are present only for a short time, and mainly during the winter months when sampling logistics are challenging. For Calanus spp., winter is an important biological time period. During the polar night fertilization takes place and the females prepare for early reproduction to assure maximized utilization of the spring bloom for their offspring. Since males are short‐lived and present when primary production is close to zero, it is assumed that they are not feeding. Here we present data on Calanus glacialis males collected in January at 80°N around the Svalbard archipelago, and findings from feeding/starvation experiments. Experimental and in situ measurements of digestive and metabolic enzyme activity and lipid dynamics showed that males were able to feed and that their survival time without food was around 2 months. Based on our new insights on males’ biology and physiology we discuss the responsiveness of males to changing environmental conditions.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 65 | Page Oral presentations

LoVe cabled ocean observatory ‐ building knowledge about the northern marine ecosystems

Anders Hermansen, Mona Låte, Hanne Greiff Johnsen

Statoil ASA, Norway

In collaboration with Institute for Marine Research, Statoil has since 2013 operated a cabled ocean observatory outside Lofoten‐Vesterålen in northern Norway (N 68 °54.474’, E 14 °23.145’). Due to the narrow continental shelf, the area is often described as the gateway to the Barents Sea. The marine ecosystem is highly valuable and productive; and the wider area is an important habitat and spawning ground for a number of key species in the northern ecosystems.

The online, cabled observatory is located 12 km offshore at approximately 260 m depth, in an area with cold water corals. The observatory consists of one instrument platform with acoustic sensors measuring current speed and direction and echosounders measuring biomass in the water. In addition there is a satellite unit approx. 50 m away, holding a camera taking an image of the corals every hour, and also sensors measuring key environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, sound, concentration of chlorophyll a, coloured dissolved organic material and total suspended matter. Data from the observatory are free for scientific and non‐commercial use, presented and accessible at love.statoil.com.

In collaboration with leading scientific partners and through several projects, data is used to build knowledge about the marine ecosystem and its natural variations. One example is the LoVe MarinEco project, a collaboration project with the ARCTOS research network, which will build and integrate knowledge from oceanographic, pelagic and benthic ecosystem studies. Another example is the SYMBIOSES project that has developed an ecosystem‐based modelling system for the prediction of potential impacts on North Atlantic cod from petroleum and fisheries activities in the marine environment.

The infrastructure provides excellent opportunities for development and testing of new environmental technology, including the use of sensors for environmental monitoring and automated image analysis. In 2017, the infrastructure will be extended to an observatory transect across the shelf and into the deep waters outside Vesterålen, as part of the project Lofoten‐Vesterålen cabled observatory, led by Institute for Marine Research .

The data from the LoVe ocean observatory and related activities has the potential to contribute to improved environmental management, combining baseline data, environmental risk assessment and environmental monitoring to improve overall environmental management capability.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 66 | Page Oral presentations

Sea ice lead identification using remote sensing

Malin Johansson 1, Camilla Brekke 1, Gunnar Spreen 2

1UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2University of Bremen, Germany

Maritime activities in the Arctic region means routing and operations within ice infested areas. Areas with young ice or open water, such as leads, are important areas for a more cost effective passage through the ice. It is therefore important to identify areas with young thin sea ice as well as open water. Moreover, within these areas heat exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean can take place.

The Arctic maritime conditions are affected by, e.g. darkness and clouds. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite scenes offer spatial resolutions down to the meter scale and are independent of light and clouds. They are therefore essential for an all‐year monitoring. Using SAR satellite scenes we identify young ice and open water areas using the backscatter signal and variations within the same. Within this study, we make use of multiple different SAR sensors and frequencies. The use of different frequency SAR satellite sensors means that an increased the number of satellite overpasses each day. As these sensors have different sensitives to the young ice areas we can extract more information about the young ice areas than is possible with just one frequency.

Earlier studies have shown that dual or quad polarimetric SAR is needed to separate accurately the young ice from the surrounding sea ice. During January to June 2015, the Norwegian Young sea ICE (N‐ICE2015) drift campaign took place north of Svalbard. The Norwegian Polar Institute and partner institutes carried out the campaign. During this campaign, overlapping dual‐pol X‐band and quad‐pol C and L‐band SAR images were obtained.

We make use of this entire dataset to study how the physical parameters of the young ice change with temperature and incidence angle. The studied parameters include variations in the co‐polarization ratio and the scattering entropy with frequency and sea ice thickness. The temperature changed from ‐40°C to +2°C during the campaign. Moreover, the young ice observed include thin ice with a thin snow cover, grey nilas as well as refrozen lead covered in frost flowers.

Initial results show that scattering entropy and co‐polarization ratio can be used to separate the young ice from the surrounding thicker sea ice within the C and L‐band SAR images and in some circumstance within the X‐band scenes. We observe a difference in the ability to separate the young ice from the surrounding sea ice based on the temperature conditions and the incidence angle.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 67 | Page Oral presentations

Broad‐scale patterns in marine food‐web structure linked to environmental gradients in the Barents Sea

Susanne Kortsch 1, Raul Primicerio 1, Michaela Aschan 1, Andrey V. Dolgov 2, Sigrid Lind 3, Benjamin Planque 3

1UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Russia, 3Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Biogeographic patterns of species diversity are associated with environmental gradients, but the implications of these patterns for food‐web structure have received little attention. Here, we identify and evaluate spatial patterns in food web structure and their association with environmental gradients in seawater temperature, salinity, bottom depth and days with sea‐ice cover across a large high‐latitude marine ecosystem, the Barents Sea. We used multivariate analyses to examine spatial correlations among food‐web metrics and motifs (i.e. sub‐structures), and between metrics, motifs and spatial variability in seawater temperature and salinity, bottom depth and days with ice cover. We used clustering to identify main regions with similar food‐web characteristics within the Barents Sea, and we ranked species according to their motif participation for the boreal (south western) and arctic (north eastern) regions. Food‐web metrics positively associated with seawater temperature are: connectivity, percentage of cannibals, and a high proportion of intraguild and mutual‐predation motifs. Food‐web metrics positively associated with sea ice and negatively with temperature are: modularity and a high proportion of shared resource motifs. Food‐web metrics positively associated with environmental habitat heterogeneity are: number of species, number of links, high proportion of motifs, mean path length, and mean trophic level. Our study contributes compelling evidence that broad‐scale patterns in species’ spatial distributions, shaped by environmental gradients through constraints on niche space and environmental filtering, manifest as distinct biogeographic patterns in food‐ web structure. These biogeographic food‐web patterns are driven by differences in linkage structure among species, and not by the number of species per se. Furthermore, the positive association between environmental and topographic heterogeneity and food‐web complexity suggests that habitat heterogeneity may indeed enhance the potential for niche differentiation and ecosystem complexity.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 68 | Page Oral presentations

New insights into life history traits of Calanus spp. males in the Arctic

Malin Daase 1, Ksenia Kosobokova 2, Maja Hatlebakk 3, Janne Søreide 3

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, 3The University Centre in Svalbard

Calanoid copepods of the genus Calanus are key elements of the pelagic ecosystem of the Arctic and North Atlantic. Calanus males are known to survive for a few month only. They are commonly present during the winter, when mating takes place, but from March on, Calanus males occur quite seldom, or are not observed at all. Due to logistical constrains, there are still relatively few studies on high latitude Calanus populations during the winter, and therefore we know comparatively little about Calanus males. Here we present data on the vertical distribution, abundance, prosome length and lipid content of Calanus males and as well as Calanus population sex ratios from different locations around Svalbard (78‐80oN) in January.

Calanus males and females were present at all locations and distributed throughout the whole water column. Prosome length and molecular identification indicated that the majority of adult specimens belonged to Calanus glacialis, even in fjords where overwintering stages (CIV and CV) of C. finmarchicus dominating at the time of sampling, suggesting earlier moulting to males (and females) in C. glacialis than in C. finmarchicus. Sex ratios varied from 1‐4 females per male to up to five males per female, and 8‐18% of females were observed with spermatophores attached. Lipid content in males was more variable than in females. Our observations indicate that adult males of Calanus glacialis stay active during the winter and do not undergo a diapause, but demonstrate active mating behaviour well before the onset of female spawning.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 69 | Page Oral presentations

Horizontal variability of phototrophic biomass and primary production within the sea ice bottom and under‐ice surface water during spring and late‐summer within the Eurasian Arctic Ocean

Benjamin A. Lange 1, Christian Katlein 1, Marcel Babin 2, Flavienne Bruyant 2, Giulia Castellani 1, Mar Fernández‐Méndez 3, Yannick Huot 4, Marcel Nicolaus 1, Ilka Peeken 1, Hauke Flores 1

1Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung, Germany, 2Université Laval, Canada, 3Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 4Université de Sherbrooke, Canada

The spatial variability of phototrophic biomass and primary production within the sea ice and under‐ ice surface water environments remain sparsely observed and poorly understood components of the Arctic ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles. To address this issue, we present two novel approaches to up‐scale ice‐algal and under‐ice phytoplankton biomass and net primary production (NPP) estimates. We combine in situ small scale sampling of ice cores and under‐ice water with larger scale horizontal under‐ice profiling made during two cruises to the Eurasian Arctic Ocean: IceArc (PS80) during late‐summer 2012, and TRANSSIZ (PS92) during spring 2015. Under‐ice horizontal profiles were performed with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV; survey lengths ~100‐500 m) and the surface and under‐ice trawl (SUIT; survey lengths ~ 500‐3000 m), both equipped with environmental sensor arrays to measure spectral radiation, sea ice thickness, and water column chl a, salinity and temperature. The ice algae biomass was derived from under‐ice spectral radiation measurements using empirical orthogonal function analyses (EOF). Under‐ice water chl a biomass estimates were determined with a CTD‐mounted fluorometer. Up‐scaled estimates of NPP were calculated using experimentally derived photosynthetic parameters from in situ samples combined with the corresponding chl a concentrations and the under‐ice PAR observations. We conducted a multi‐scale (e.g., 1s, 100s, 1000s of meters) comparison between point (~1 m horizontal scale) and up‐scaled measurements of biomass and NPP derived for the in‐ice and under‐ice environments. Based on results from the 2012 summer IceArc (PS80) cruise observations, we show that using single point measurements of sea ice or under‐ice water biomass and NPP do not representatively capture the large spatial variability compared to the up‐scaled estimates. The up‐scaled estimates, however, did not accurately reproduce the small‐scale (~1 m) variability, which means that both approaches are required to capture all scales of variability. Furthermore, we identified sea ice ridges as high biomass, high NPP features of the sea ice cover, which provide some insight into the observed differences between methods and measurement scales. Further analyses of the spring TRANSSIZ (PS92) cruise data will provide a multi‐scale, seasonal comparison of phototrophic biomass and primary production within the under‐ice surface water environment.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 70 | Page Oral presentations

Highly resolved underway observations of marine inherent optical properties for estimating near‐surface chlorophyll‐a in the Fram Strait on large spatial scale

Yangyang Liu 1, Rüdiger Röttgers 2, Marta Ramírez‐Pérez 3, Sonja Wiegmann 4, Sebastian Hellmann 1, Astrid Bracher 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research; University of Bremen, Germany, 2Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht Center of Materials and Coastal Research, Germany, 3Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM‐CSIC), Spain, 4Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

Optical sensors show great capability to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of marine bio‐optical properties when applied to in situ ocean observations, improving our understanding of ocean biogeochemical processes on a broader scale. However, data quality control of the optical sensors remains challenging because of biofouling and instrumental instability. In this study, we established a ship‐based flow‐ through system of Absorption Attenuation Spectra Meter (AC‐s, Wetlabs Inc.) and conducted continuous underway measurements of hyperspectral seawater inherent optical properties (IOPs) during the PS93.2 and PS99.2 expeditions to the Fram Strait. A correction scheme was developed for obtaining calibration‐independent hyperspectral particulate absorption. Results showed that the corrected particulate absorption at 443 nm were comparable to discrete filter‐pad measurements of particulate absorption (R2=0.75, RMSE=0.0155). Continuous near‐surface phytoplankton Chlorophyll‐a concentrations were retrieved from the quality controlled hyperspectral particulate absorption, which were finally used as a much more adequate data source to validate MODIS‐A, VIRRS and the new Senntinel‐3 sensor OLCI Chlorophyll‐a products.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 71 | Page Oral presentations

Hyperbenthic Food‐Web Structure in Kongsfjord: A Two‐Season Comparison using Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acids

Maeve McGovern 1, Paul Renaud 2, Jørgen Berge 3

1UiT, Akvaplan‐niva, UiN, Norway, 2Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 3UiT, Norway

Current knowledge of the Arctic marine ecosystem is based primarily on studies performed during the polar day on the pelagic and benthic realms. Both the polar night and the hyperbenthic layer remain substantial knowledge gaps in the understanding of the marine system at high latitudes. To help address these knowledge gaps, this project investigates the hyperbenthic food web structure in Kongsfjord, a high‐latitude, ice‐free fjord, in September and January. The hyperbenthic food web was analysed using a multi‐biomarker approach including carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic signatures as well as fatty acid profiles of a variety of hyperbenthic taxa. Results suggest no difference in biomarker composition between September and January, although fatty acid profiles reveal a division in the community between pelagic and benthic consumers.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 72 | Page Oral presentations

Monitoring of Arctic marine protists via an observation strategy integrating automated under‐way filtration, long‐term sediment traps and molecular analyses

Katja Metfies 1, Eduard Bauerfeind 1, Antje Boetius 1, Stephan Frickenhaus 1, Johanna Hessel 1, Estelle Kilias 1, Stefan Neuhaus 1, Wilhelm Petersen 2, Ian Salter 1, Friedhelm Schröder 2, Pim Sprong 1, Christian Wolf 1, Jochen Wollschläger 2

1Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2Helmholtz‐Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Coastal Research, Germany

Information on recent diversity and biogeography of Arctic marine protists with adequate temporal and spatial resolution is urgently needed to understand better consequences of environmental change for marine ecosystems. Here, we introduce a molecular‐based observation strategy for high resolution assessment of marine protists in space and time, even in remote areas such as the Arctic Ocean. The observation strategy involves molecular analyses (e.g. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) or quantitative PCR) of samples, collected with a set of complementary methods such as a newly developed automated under‐way sampling device, CTD‐casts and moored sediment traps. This integrated approach allows generating detailed information on marine protist community composition or abundance with adequate resolution. Currently, the observation strategy is organized at four major levels. At level 1, samples are collected at high spatial and temporal resolution based on under‐way sampling with the remote‐controlled automated filtration system AUTOFIM (developed in the COSYNA‐project), and sampling at fixed stations based on CTD‐casts and moored sediment traps. Resulting samples can either be preserved for later laboratory analyses, or directly subjected to molecular surveillance of key species aboard the ship, e.g. via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (level 2). Preserved samples are analysed at the next observational levels in the laboratory (level 3 and 4). This involves at level 3 molecular fingerprinting methods for a quick and reliable overview of differences in protist community composition. Finally, selected samples can be used to generate a detailed analysis of taxonomic protist composition via the latest Next Generation Sequencing Technology (NGS) at level 4. An overall integrated dataset of all results provides comprehensive information on the diversity and biogeography of protists, including all related size classes. In the future, the observation strategy for Arctic marine protists will be part of the Molecular Microbial Observatory envisioned for the Arctic observatory FRAM (Frontiers in Arctic Monitoring).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 73 | Page Oral presentations

Arctica islandica shell microstructures: a novel paleoclimate proxy?

Stefania Milano 1, Gernot Nehrke 2, Alan D. Wanamaker 3, Irene Ballesta Artero 4, Thomas Brey 5, Bernd R. Schoene 1

1University of Mainz, Germany, 2Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 3Iowa State University, 4Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 5Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Mollusc shells provide unique paleoclimate archives. At high latitudes, the ocean quahog Arctica islandica is often used for such purposes. Due to its extreme longevity (over 500 years) and its broad geographic distribution (North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean), this species is particularly suitable for long‐term paleoclimate reconstructions. Variations of stable isotopes and growth patterns of the shells are currently used as environmental proxies. However, these proxies are sensitive to multiple environmental (and physiological) parameters at the same time, so that it remains challenging to reconstruct a particular environmental variable. Here, we study if the organization of the structural units of the shells (= shell microstructure) serves as a superior proxy. Bivalves were grown under controlled conditions to identify the influence of two environmental variables: water temperature and diet composition. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM) were used to analyse potential changes in the mineral organization at nanometer scale. These two analytical techniques provide complementary pieces of information on pigment distribution, crystallographic orientation and morphometric characteristics (e.g. unit size and shape) of the biomineral units. Our results show that the organization of microstructures and the pigment distribution of A. islandica shells are not influenced by the food source. However, changes in water temperature result in significant changes of the crystallographic orientation of the structural units. According to our findings, the crystallographic orientation may be used as novel proxy for water temperature, opening a new perspective in the field of paleoclimate reconstructions.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 74 | Page Oral presentations

Recent developments in remotely operated and autonomous technology for interdisciplinary sea ice observations

Marcel Nicolaus, Mario Hoppmann, Daniel Scholz, Martin Schiller, Benjamin Rabe, Christian Katlein

Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

Most knowledge about processes at the atmosphere‐ice‐ocean boundary is currently derived from either icebreaker cruises (mostly during summer) or few manned drifting stations. Data covering a wider extent both in the spatial and temporal dimension is still sparse. Until recently, autonomous year‐round observations by drifting sea ice buoys have mostly focused on the physical properties of the sea ice system. Ice Mass‐balance Buoys (IMB) are a common tool for monitoring of sea ice growth and melt, ice‐tethered upper ocean profilers significantly improved our understanding of circulation patterns, and autonomous atmospheric weather stations and other buoys are contributing to global weather forecasts.

In the last years, we extended the capabilities of autonomous sea ice observatories, e.g. by the development of the affordable Snow Buoys, which measures snow height at four locations using acoustic range finders. For extending the knowledge about the seasonal development of the sea ice ecosystem, an ice‐tethered ocean profiler was upgraded with bio‐optical sensors to follow the development of algal blooms throughout the year. To bridge the data gap left by the ocean profiling system in the top five meters of the water column, we upgraded an IMB with bio‐optical and radiation sensors in the uppermost water column.

To better address the spatial variability of the sea‐ice system, a new remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for under‐ice research was commissioned by the Alfred Wegener Institute. Apart from the basic capabilities of observation and manipulation, the ice‐launched vehicle comprises a comprehensive interdisciplinary sensor suite: A high definition zoom main video camera in conjunction with two navigation cameras and an upward‐looking photographic still camera are used to observe and document the ice underside. Acoustic instruments include a scanning sonar, an altimeter measuring the distance to the ice, as well as a multibeam sonar for mapping of the under‐ice topography. Spectral irradiance and radiance sensors are used to measure radiative fluxes under the ice in conjunction with the determination of bio‐optical properties of the water. A CTD package extended with sensors for dissolved oxygen, pH, and Nitrate complements the interdisciplinary sensor suite.

Here we present the operational concept unifying temporal observations by drifting buoys with spatial observations using the new underwater vehicle. Ensuring comparability between both datasets by sensible sensor choices allows for new insights into the spatio‐temporal evolution of the Arctic sea ice ecosystem.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 75 | Page Oral presentations

High‐resolution vertical distribution of Arctic zooplankton in relation to hydrographical parameters

Barbara Niehoff, Nicole Hildebrandt, Vanessa Köhler

Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut Helmholtzzentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung, Germany

Optical measurements are increasingly important in zooplankton studies as they allow for covering wide spatial ranges and study the distribution of the dominant taxa in greater detail than classical net twos. The plankton recorder LOKI provides high‐resolution pictures, continuously taken by a 4 Megapixel camera during vertical hauls from 1000 depth to the surface. Linked to each picture, hydrographical parameters are being recorded, e.g. salinity, temperature, oxygen concentration and fluorescence. This allows to exactly identifying distribution patterns in relation to environmental conditions, rather than sampling depth intervals of up to several hundred meters as is possible with multiple net samplers. In order to analyse the community composition, abundance and depth distribution of the species in the Fram Strait, we have conducted two hauls during a RV Polarstern cruise in July/August 2015 (PS93.2) to the deep‐sea observatory “Hausgarten” of the Alfred‐ Wegener‐Institute, Germany. We sampled the most northern (79°56’35”N, 3°11’45”E) and the most southern station (78°35’97”N, 5°4”11”E) of the “Hausgarten” monitoring stations. The two stations were similar with regard to zooplankton community composition. Copepods, among which Calanus, Oncaea and Microcalanus were the most frequent genera, dominated with a contribution of more than 80%. Calanus reached the highest abundances in surface layers (Oncaea and Microcalanus were mostly found in depth > 300m. Abundances at the northern station were twice as high as at the southern station. Mean weighted depths of the dominant taxa were significantly deeper at the northern than at the southern station, which corresponded to the deeper location of the Return Atlantic Intermediate Water.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 76 | Page Oral presentations

Shifts in the prey availability for little auk: inter‐annual trends in zooplankton distribution on the southern West Spitsbergen Shelf

Kaja Ostaszewska, Emilia Trudnowska, Wichorowski Marcin, Katarzyna Blachowiak‐Samolyk

Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Alterations to the size structure of plankton as a key effect of climate change on marine Arctic ecosystem are expected to have negative consequences for higher trophic levels e.g. planktivorous seabird ‐ the little auk. At the range of little auks diving depth (upper 50 meters) the regular Laser Optical Plankton Counter measurements were performed over five summer seasons (2010‐2014) to test whether any trend in the spatial availability of their main prey – Calanus glacialis exists. Obtained plankton results were grouped into two size fractions in order to evaluate the prey availability for little auks: the older life stages of C. glacialis, which made up the majority of “Calanus size fraction” and the “small size fraction” not including little auk food. As significant differences in water temperature over years were observed, first three years were classified as colder years and last two years as warmer years. Our data was supported by similar results conducted inside the Hornsund fjord, which confirmed the strong link between the processes that occur outside and inside the fjord. The relations between hydrography and proportions of both plankton size groups were tested among different zones (Arctic, Frontal, and Atlantic), years and water layers. The importance of small plankton fraction was higher over the warmer years in the Atlantic Zone, while Calanus fraction was concentrated mainly in the Arctic Zone over colder years. Furthermore, the highest availability of little auk prey was revealed in colder year in the upper 10 m layer. Consequently, the foraging conditions for the little auk in colder years were more favourable because of the higher availability of their staple prey closer to their colonies and closer to the surface. Our inter‐annual plankton data delivered useful background for modelling/prediction of the prey availability from the perspective of its planktivorous predator.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 77 | Page Oral presentations

Arctic BioMap: Building participatory technologies for community‐specific environmental monitoring and decision making in the North

Bindu Panikkar 1, Maribeth Murray 2, Susan Kutz 2, Steve Liang 2

1University of Vermont, USA, 2University of Calgary, Canada

The Arctic continues to undergo unprecedented and accelerated system‐wide environmental change. For people who live in the north this presents challenges to resource management, subsistence, health and well‐being, and yet, there is very little community‐specific data on wildlife (including wildlife health), local environmental conditions and emerging hazards in Northern Canada. A novel approach that integrates community expertise with developing technologies can simplify data collection and improve understanding of current and future conditions. It can also improve our ability to manage and adapt to the rapidly transforming Arctic. Arctic BioMap is a data platform for real‐time monitoring and a geospatial informational database of wildlife and environmental information useful for assessment, research, management, and education. It enables monitoring of wildlife and environmental variables including hazards to inform decision‐making at multiples scales. Using participatory technologies Arctic BioMap incorporates indigenous research needs and the ensuing data can be used to inform policy making. Arctic BioMap provides a forum for continuous exchange and communication among community members, scientists, resources managers, and other stakeholders.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 78 | Page Oral presentations

Pan‐Arctic phylogeography, connectivity and demographic history of species of Pseudocalanus (Copepoda, Calanoida)

Jennifer Questel 1, Ole Aarbakke, N. S. 2, Leocadio Blanco‐Bercial 3, Fredrika Norrbin 4, Claudia Halsband 5, Russell Hopcroft 6, Ann Bucklin 1

1University of Connecticut, USA, 2AquaGen, Norway, 3Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Bermuda, 4University of Tromsø, Norway, 5Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 6University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA

Phylogeographic analysis of marine zooplankton species can reveal both demographic history and patterns of population connectivity. Three species of the copepod genus Pseudocalanus exhibit widespread distributions over polar and sub‐polar latitudes of the northern hemisphere. These species are frequently highly abundant and may be ecologically important as links to higher trophic levels. We report findings based on phylogeographic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene for Pseudocalanus acuspes, P. minutus and P. newmani from Atlantic and Pacific sectors of the Arctic Ocean. Pan‐Arctic phylogeographic analysis of widely‐distributed and ecologically‐important species can provide new insights into how a warming Arctic with diminishing sea‐ice cover may reduce barriers to gene flow and alter population connectivity among Arctic and sub‐Arctic marine organisms.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 79 | Page Oral presentations

Lipid load triggers migration to diapause in Arctic Calanus copepods ‐ insights from underwater imaging

Moritz Schmid, Louis Fortier

Takuvik Laboratory, Québec‐Océan, Université Laval, Canada

Calanus copepods have a key role in the Arctic marine environment, one of the reasons being that their high lipid content is a major energy source for many higher trophic level animals. Substantial research has been carried out on lipids, including studies on their fatty acid composition and genetic underpinnings. What is missing to date though is an adequate vertical resolution of copepod specimen and their lipid content. This study investigated the vertical distribution of the key copepods Calanus hyperboreus, C. glacialis as well as Metridia longa over a 24h lagrangian drift in the Northwater Polynya (NOW), August 2013, using in‐ situ underwater imaging. A copepod‐stage‐specific automatic zooplankton identification model based on machine learning (artificial intelligence) was developed and used to identify all images taken by the LOKI submersible camera system. Lipid content (mg) and lipid fullness (lipid area/prosome area) were measured from the images, for several stages of the three study species. Diel vertical migration (DVM) in all three species was detected, with distinct intra‐ and interspecies differences. Mean lipid content and mean lipid fullness of C. hyperboreus females reached 2.4 mg and 79% respectively. Mean lipid content and mean fullness of C. glacialis females were 0.52 mg and 79% respectively. Mean lipid content and mean fullness of M. longa females was 0.09 mg and 36% respectively. In C4, C5 and females of C. hyperboreus and C. glacialis, lipid content as well as lipid fullness increased significantly with depth. M. longa showed no such signal. Comparison of linear regressions of lipid content and fullness with depth, for daytime and night time deployments, showed that heavier and fuller individuals in a taxon (e.g. C. hyperboreus C4 and C. glacialis C5) stayed at depth during night, while individuals from the same taxon with less lipid content migrated back to the surface. C. hyperboreus C4, C5 and females as well as C. glacialis C5 and females had a mean lipid fullness of 50% or above and their distributions indicated that these stages were already at overwintering depth, or on their way. This study therefore suggests that in the NOW, taxa able to accumulate 50% or more lipid fullness stop potential DVM and start migration to diapause. Vertically detailed measures of lipid content and fullness, presented here for key Arctic copepod taxa, should be of high value to many areas of marine science including modelling as well as whale and seabird research.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 80 | Page Oral presentations

Atlantic water inflow and climate variability in sclerochronological records of Arctica islandica from the Viking Bank, North Sea

Tamara Trofimova, Carin Andersson, Fabian Bonitz

Uni Research, Norway

The marine climate of the European Arctic and the Nordic Seas is strongly dependent on the flow of warm saline Atlantic water transported by North Atlantic Current (NCC). This flow brings heat northwards and moderate climate of Europe and Scandinavia. Previous studies have for example linked the interannual variability and decrease in sea‐ice extent in the Barents Sea to the variability of the Atlantic water inflow. Studying the dynamic and variability of NCC along its pathway on different time‐scales will help us understand the natural variability of marine climate in the region. However, observational data cover only a maximum of 150 years, which is too short to capture the whole range of variability. Therefore, knowledge of natural climate variability is dependent on proxy records of environmental and climate change recorded by natural archives. The bivalve species Arctica islandica provides a unique paleoclimatic archive with an exceptional longevity combined with high temporal resolution.

In this study, we investigate the impact of climate variability on sclerochronological records of A. islandica from the Viking Bank in the northern North Sea. The hydrographical characteristics of this location are controlled by the inflow of Atlantic water diverging from the easternmost branch of NCC‐ Norwegian Atlantic Current. The variability of this inflow is likely reflected in the shell composition and growth of A. islandica. To test this hypothesis, we use shells of living and subfossil specimens of A. islandica collected by dredging at depths around 100 meters. Based on 30 individual growth increment‐width time series, we built an absolutely dated shell‐growth chronology spanning the time interval 1748‐2013 AD. The relatively high Rbar (>0.5) and EPS (>0.85) values indicate a common environmental forcing on the shell growth within the population. The growth chronology preserves a 20‐30 yr variability prior to 1900 that weakens towards the present. That change suggests a possible regime shift at the beginning of the 20th century. Ongoing work focuses on comparing the shell‐growth chronology with existing observational time series of climatic parameters to determine controlling factors and test the use of growth chronologies for climate reconstruction in this area. For reconstructing seasonality, we analyse the stable oxygen isotope composition of the shell carbonate. Preliminary results of temperature reconstruction are in agreement with observations and show a seasonal variability with amplitude of about 4oC. Future work includes the development of an annually resolved oxygen isotope record and subsequent temperature reconstruction.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 81 | Page Oral presentations

Latitudinal and vertical gradients in structure and distribution of size‐fractionated plankton in the eastern Fram Strait region

Emilia Trudnowska 1, Slawomir Sagan 1, Sunnje Basedow 2, Meng Zhou 3, Katarzyna Blachowiak‐Samolyk 1

1IOPAS, Poland, 2UIT, Norway, 3UMASS, USA

The expected restructuring of plankton communities, towards an increasing importance of small individuals, as well as the observed declining sizes on both the individual and population levels, are among the most pronounced effects of the observed climate warming in the Arctic. Plankton size spectra analysis is a powerful tool to observe such a transition as well as to understand its impact on energy fluxes in marine systems.

We analysed size spectra of the pelagic community from nano‐, through micro to meso‐ size fractions in the upper 100 m layer by combining measurements from a Laser In Situ Scattering and Transmissometry instrument (LISST) for size in the range of 3–100 µm, and a Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC), for size in the range of 100–5000 µm, which were collected at 55 stations spread along 7 sections crossing the Fram Strait during summer 2013.

The results provide an evidence that particles and plankton biomass distribution, size structure and diversity as well as trophic transfer efficiency (TTE) differ substantially, when diverse spatial (horizontal and vertical), hydrographical (water masses) and biological (primary production conditions) gradients are considered. Both spatial gradients were the most evident. A pronounced trend of flattening size spectra slopes, increasing TTE and mean size together with decreasing trend of plankton size diversity were observed along the latitudinal gradient. Additionally, the studied chlorophyll fluorescence gradient confirmed clearly the size spectra theory, which assumes that the higher the intercept, the higher the amount of primary production in an area. The organisms associated with Polar Waters were generally bigger and more diverse than those from Atlantic domains, however the comparable values of TTE implies that the biomass balance between mesozooplankton in relation to nano‐ and micro‐ plankton was similar among different water masses.

The combined use of two complementary optical particle counters showed very close fit between LISST and LOPC size spectra. By using these two in situ bio‐optical instruments, we obtained high‐resolution information on particles and plankton biovolume and size at scales significantly finer than it was possible in the past. Since climate‐induced alternations observed now in the European Arctic would be beneficial for small‐sized plankton our study covering different size metrics applied in marine ecology is highly desirable in an effort to understand the relative roles of diverse size fractions in the future pelagic realm.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 82 | Page Oral presentations

Carbon flux and benthic mineralization in the Central Arctic ‐‐ Insight from in situ oxygen microprofiles and total flux measurements

Frank Wenzhoefer 1, Janine Felden 2, Matthias Haeckel 3, Antje Boetius 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2MARUM‐ Center for Marine Environmental Sciences/University Bremen, Germany, 3GEOMAR Helmholtz‐Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

Little is known about the dynamics of carbon flux to the deep Central Arctic seafloor and the remineralisation rates of benthic communities at water depths >3400 m. Considering the low primary production and limited carbon export from the surface ocean and sea ice, benthic life is sparse in the abyssal plains of the Central Arctic. However, thinning sea ice and shrinking sea‐ice extent are currently changing production regimes in the Arctic Ocean. Such changes in the food supply may also alter the structure and activity of benthic communities.

Here we present in situ benthic oxygen fluxes and oxygen distributions in the upper seafloor from six stations in the deep Central Arctic Ocean. Oxygen fluxes and microprofiles were obtained by moored lander systems, equipped with benthic chambers and microprofiler, deployed in sea ice covered areas for ~72 hours. These data represent the first in situ benthic consumption rates measured in this region. At all sites, the sediment surface was well oxygenated with an extensive O2 penetration depth (OPD). Benthic oxygen consumption rates can be used as a proxy for organic carbon consumption, supplied from pelagic and sea ice production. Although benthic oxygen fluxes in this oligotrophic region seem to be low and relative uniform between the investigated sites, high spatial variabilities in the local consumption rates can be observed. Peaks in consumption rates can be correlated with the local input of high amounts of organic matter provided by algal deposits. At those spots, significantly shallower OPDs were observed. Oxygen profiles below algal patches are modelled to determine the time required to consume the oxygen in the sediment after such a deposition event. Oxygen uptake determined by microprofiles and chambers are compared and consumption rates related to benthic biomasses and primary production. Our results provide a unique perspective into the food supply and benthic activities in the Central Arctic, which are crucial to provide a baseline study and to evaluate the impact of climate change on the oceanic carbon cycle. The project was supported through the Helmholtz Association program PACES (Polar Regions and Coasts in a Changing Earth System) and the ERC project ABYSS (grant 294757).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 83 | Page Oral presentations

Fast warming, slow thermophilic species advance in Spitsbergen. A result from the citizen science action.

Jan‐Marcin Weslawski, Joanna Legezynska, Waldemar Walczowski, Katarzyna Draganska

Institute of Oceanology PAS, Poland

Recent (2008‐ 2016) occurrence of thermophilic intertidal amphipod (Gammarus oceanicus) along Spitsbergen coast, was compared with similar data from 1980‐ 1994. The west coast of the island was exposed to the steady sea surface and air temperature increase (2oC in 20 years), as well as significant loss of fast ice duration (from over 5 to less than 1month per year). The warm core of Atlantic water in West Spitsbergen Current shows fluctuations, yet steady increase in its volume, and northern position of 4oC isotherm at 100m depth. Coastal areas recently impacted by warming are estimated as over 900km2 along the island. The interannual fluctuations of warm water inflow range over 1000km. Among the two twin Gammarus species that dwell in Spitsbergen littoral, the local, cold water species (G. setosus) remains, where it was observed 20 years ago. The boreal, thermophilic species G. oceanicus, shows expansion along the west and North coast of Spitsbergen, yet its advance is estimated as 435km2 of areas newly occupied by this species. The linear movement of G. oceanicus does not extend 100km from the sites it was observed in 1980s. As the species is free moving, able to use the floating algal debris or swim on its own, and may use the transport with coastal current, its slow advance to the apparently preferred habitats is surprising. We assume that the reason for such slow expansion is the presence of competitor, twin species, the cold water G. setosus, which keeps its habitat, and can cope with present level of environmental change. All the material for species distribution analyses was collected as a citizen science effort ‐ several yachts, amateur boat trips, combined with research teams provided over 100 sampling stations in recent years.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 84 | Page Oral presentations

A year in the microbial life of a changing Arctic Ocean

Bryan Wilson 1, Oliver Mueller 1, Eva‐Lena Nordmann 1, Lena Seuthe 2, Gunnar Bratbak 1, Lise Øvreås 1

1Universitetet i Bergen, Norway, 2Universitetet i Tromsø, Norway

As the global climate changes, the higher latitudes are seen to be warming significantly faster. It is likely that the Arctic biome will experience considerable shifts in ice melt season length and permafrost thawing, leading to changes in photo irradiance and in the freshwater and terrigenous inputs to the marine environment. The exchange of nutrients between Arctic surface and deep waters and their biogeochemical cycling throughout the water column is driven by seasonal change. The impacts, however, of the current global climate transition period on the biodiversity and its continued nutrient cycling within the Arctic Ocean are not yet known. To determine seasonal variation in the microbial communities in the deep water column, samples were collected from a profile (1‐1000m depth) in the waters around the Svalbard archipelago throughout an annual cycle encompassing both the polar night and day. High‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to monitor prokaryote diversity. In epipelagic surface waters (200m), seasonality subsequently had much less effect on community composition. In summer, phytoplankton‐associated Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria dominated surface waters, whilst in low light conditions (surface waters in winter months and deeper waters all year round); the Thaumarchaeota and Chloroflexi‐type SAR202 predominated. Alpha‐diversity generally increased in epipelagic waters as seasonal light availability decreased; OTU richness also consistently increased down through the water column, with the deepest darkest waters containing the greatest diversity. Beta‐diversity analyses confirmed that seasonality and depth also primarily drove community composition. The relative abundance of the eleven predominant taxa showed significant changes in surface waters in summer months and varied with season depending on the phytoplankton bloom stage; corresponding populations in deeper waters however, remained relatively unchanged. Given the significance of the annual phytoplankton bloom pattern on prokaryote diversity in Arctic waters, any changes to bloom dynamics resulting from accelerated global warming will likely have major impacts on surface marine microbial communities, those impacts inevitably trickling down into deeper waters.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 85 | Page Oral presentations

Future Fisheries Is the use of acoustic alarms on gillnets the quick fix for fisheries with high By‐catch rates of harbour porpoises?

Arne Bjørge 1, André Moan 2

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2University of Oslo, Norway

Data from a monitored segment (20 vessels) of the fleet of about 6000 small vessels (less than 15 meters length overall) operating gillnets for cod (Gadus morhua) (half‐mesh 8‐12 cm) and monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) (half‐mesh 18 cm) in the Norwegian coastal zone were used to estimate the bycatch rate of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The bycatch for the entire period 2006‐2014 was estimated by two methods: a ratio‐based approach and a model‐based approach. Bycatch rates were then applied to landings statistics for the target species (cod and monkfish) for the whole fleet using the same gear types to extrapolate total bycatch. In the ratio‐based approach, the data were stratified according to five different stratification schemes, by month, by area, by region, and by each possible combination of area × month and region × month. The stratified ratio‐based annual bycatch estimates ranged from 2317 (CV 0.15) to 3375 (CV 0.16) porpoises. In the model‐ based approaches, generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to estimate the bycatch rate. Poisson and negative binominal models and their zero‐inflated counterparts were compared. The Poisson model performed best, and the best model based on Akaike’s Information Criterion adjusted for small samples, AICc, yielded an annual bycatch of 2946 (CV 0.11) porpoises.

Following large scale, international surveys, the population of harbour porpoises in the North Sea was estimated at 341366 porpoises (CV 0.14) in 1994 (SCANS), and 335000 porpoises (CV 0.21) in 2005 (SANS II). These surveys covered the Norwegian coastal waters, but not the fjords, south of 62 degrees N. Most of the bycatches of harbour porpoise were in coastal and fjord waters between 62 and 68 degrees N. A new survey (SCANS III) was carried out in the summer of 2016. The Institute of Marine Research invested an additional 1 million NOK to extend the survey to 68 degrees N covering coastal waters and some fjords.

During September ‐ early December of 2016 we ran an experiment with acoustic alarms (pingers) on gillnets targeting monkfish. Such pingers have reduced bycatches of harbour porpoise by 80‐100% in gillnets fisheries in Denmark and USA. Results from the experiment will become available January 2017. What is the functionality of pingers in Norwegian fisheries? How susceptible are Norwegian fishers to the use of pingers? And the key question: will pingers on gillnets with high bycatch rate of harbour porpoise make future fisheries sustainable with regard to bycatches?

Arctic Frontiers 2017 86 | Page Oral presentations

Intra‐ and intergenerational climate dialogues in Norway based on future Arctic ecosystem services

Dorothy Dankel 1, Yajie Liu 2, Rachel Tiller 3

1University of Bergen, Norway, 2Senter for Økonomisk Forskning NTNU, Norway, 3SINTEF, Norway

The background for this paper is the 3–year project “REGIMES: An interdisciplinary investigation into scenarios of national and international conflicts of ecosystem services in the Svalbard zone under a changing climate in the Arctic” recently funded by the Research Council of Norway’s Polar Program (POLARPROG) in 2016. The focus of REGIMES is outstanding interdisciplinary research on the changing Arctic climate, which contributes to the knowledge base about trade‐offs among different ecosystem services. The archipelago of Svalbard is located at 78oN, and is vulnerable environmentally, socially as well as politically to a changing climate. People depend on ecosystem goods and services for their livelihoods, and ecosystem that are indispensable to human health and well‐being.

There is increasing concern over the impacts of climate change on ecosystem goods and services through marine fish resources abundance, distributions and interactions. Changes in the spatial distribution and relative abundance of commercially exploited and potentially valuable marine fish species are likely to change the dynamics of fishing activities and exploitation patterns.

It is very likely a warming climate will increase overall species richness and abundance in the Arctic, resulting in increased catch potential. In this paper, we first project the distribution and abundance of commercially exploited marine fish and invertebrates in the Arctic by applying Dynamic Bioclimate Envelope Model (DBEM) along with climate models (CMIP5). We then determine the potential changes in catches of the exploited fish and invertebrate species under scenarios of climate change and ocean acidification. Based on these ecological changes, we will use bioeconomic and production models to assess provisioning services in terms of marine fisheries, and further a broad ecosystem services at a society level.

Involving various stakeholders, present and future local resource users will be vital to the development and successful implementation of holistic marine and maritime strategies across the Arctic. In addition, effective and meaningful communication from stakeholder to scientist, scientist to stakeholder and across the science‐policy interface, We take a bold intra‐ and inter‐generational approach by involving high school students, adult active stakeholders (from various marine and maritime sectors, including oil and gas) and retired and elderly citizens (from local contacts and retirement homes) in our stakeholder workshops. Through a newly developed climate scenario game, students and stakeholder will interact with decision‐making scenarios, which also will elucidate ethical and philosophical discussions of trade‐offs in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 87 | Page Oral presentations

Using an Ecosystem Approach to management of marine mammals: challenges and benefits to ensuring sustainable exploitation and balanced fishing.

Geneviève Desportes, Jill Prewitt

NAMMCO, Norway

NAMMCO (North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission) provides advice to its parties – the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway – on the conservation, management, and study of marine mammals. The NAMMCO parties recognize the rights of coastal communities to utilize all marine resources, but also are committed to this use being sustainable and responsible, basing management on the best available scientific and traditional knowledge, and using an ecosystem based approach.

The current population assessments are primarily single‐species assessments, based mainly on abundance, trends, and catch data. However, the impacts of other human activities in the Arctic, and elsewhere, must be integrated in the management advice process. As will be presented, NAMMCO is moving towards incorporating all impacts of human activities on marine mammals in addition to the direct catches.

The management of hunting activities has become relatively straightforward when reliable data on abundance, trends, and biological parameters is available, and quotas and catch reporting are well managed. Increasing stocks of narwhal, beluga and walrus off Greenland are clear examples of sound and science‐based management, following advice from NAMMCO. In turn, this allows the precautious increase of removal quotas, thus creating a win‐win situation typical of a sound Blue Economy. However, the continuity of marine mammal stocks as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services, as well as supporting and regulating services, are not solely dependent on the sound management of whaling and sealing activities. The management of other human impacts on marine mammals can be more challenging, given that these impacts can be difficult to quantify. These can include impacts such as 1) by‐catch and competition from fisheries, 2) changes in behaviour and distribution due to tourism, resource exploration and extraction, and shipping, 3) ship‐strikes from shipping and 4) lethal and sub‐lethal effects of pollution, such as reproductive failure. In addition to these impacts, environmental and ecosystem changes due to climate change are already affecting marine mammals in many different ways, including changes in habitat availability, shifts in distribution, competition with new species, etc.

Incorporating all of these impacts into management advice will require some level of predicting the future and attempting to quantify these impacts as much as possible. Management advice will likely need to include options for managers to decide which ecosystem services will be prioritized.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 88 | Page Oral presentations

Technology development of a sustainable harvesting of snow crab in the Barents Sea

Hanne Digre 1, Leonore Olsen 2, Jørgen Vollstad 1, Leif Grimsmo 1

1SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, Norway, 2SINTEF Nord

The snow crab fishery is new in Norway and represents a resource with huge growth potential. The latest reports from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research estimates a potential catch value of snowcrab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Barents Sea to count between 2‐5 billion NOK within 2020.

The snowcrab fisheries has been for many years an important industry in areas like the Okhotsk Sea (Russia), The Bering Sea (USA) and the East Atlantic coast of Canada. Currently, the most important fishery takes place in Canada, where it has become the most valuable species in their fishery. Snowcrab is a cold water species, and prefer temperatures less than 4°C. In contrast to the Canadian snow crab fisheries, which is a coastal fishery, the snowcrab habitats are situated far off the Norwegian coast which allows only larger, deep sea vessels to participate in this fishery. The Norwegian deep sea fishing fleet is characterized by high efficiency due to high‐tech vessels operated by educated crew with high wages and high demand for comfort and safe working environments.

The traps and most of the technology and handling methods used in the Norwegian fisheries in the Barents Sea have been acquired from the Canadian fishery and needs to be further developed. Optimally designed crab pots with good selection properties are important to reduce the turnover of non‐target organisms, and to make the operation on deck more effective. This presentation will address some main technological challenges for sustainable development of the snow crab fisheries in the Barents Sea.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 89 | Page Oral presentations

Changes in the functional composition of fish communities in the Barents Sea following environmental and anthropogenic stressors

André Frainer 1, Raul Primicerio 2, Andrey Dolgov 3, Maria Fossheim 4, Michaela Aschan 2

1UiT, Norway, 2UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 3PINRO, Russia, 4IMR, Norway

Warming waters are rapidly changing the composition and structure of fish communities in the Barents Sea. Anthropogenic activities may also be behind some of the changes observed. In this work, we aimed at analysing how environmental and anthropogenic factors are affecting the distribution of functional traits in the demersal fish communities in the Barents Sea. We assessed changes across space and time by using data from ecosystem surveys conducted between 2004 and 2012 and covering the entire Barents Sea, totalizing nearly 4000 stations. This data contained 54 fish species that were characterized by a set of 20 different functional traits on different aspects of fish biology and ecology. These included information on habitat and diet preferences, body size and fecundity, and foodweb‐derived characteristics of each species, among others. Across the Barents Sea, fish functional composition ranged from (1) more pelagic communities showing high foodweb connection to several prey and predator species, and more piscivorous diets to (2) more benthic communities with lower foodweb connection to both prey and predators, smaller sizes, and more benthivorous diets. Random forest analyses indicate that temperature and location are the most important drivers of change in functional composition between 2004 and 2012. In 2004, the more pelagic communities were mostly located in the southern areas of the Barents Sea. However, following a peak in average water temperature in 2006, and the extension of Arctic and boreal mixed waters, the pelagic communities have expanded northwards. Consequently, the previously northerly widespread Arctic benthic communities have been reduced to fewer areas in the northeast. These results bear important consequences for fisheries in the region, as the current and future distributions of fish containing important traits (e.g., large‐bodied, pelagic fish) are changing northwards.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 90 | Page Oral presentations

Future harvest of marine biological resources on the Northeast Atlantic side of the Arctic Ocean: a review of possibilities and constraints

Tore Haug 1, Bjarte Bogstad 1, Melissa Chierici 1, Harald Gjøsæter 1, Ellvar Hallfredsson 1, Åge Høines 1, Alf Håkon Hoel 2, Randi Ingvaldsen 1, Lis Lindal Jørgensen 1, Tor Knutsen 1, Harald Loeng 1, Lars‐Johan Naustvoll 1, Ingolf Røttingen 1, Knut Sunnanå 1

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

Global warming drives changes in oceanographic conditions in the Arctic Ocean and the adjacent continental slopes. This may result in favourable conditions for increased biological production in waters at the northern continental shelves. However, production in the central Arctic Ocean will continue to be limited by the amount of light and by vertical stratification reducing nutrient availability. Upwelling conditions due to topography and inflowing warm and nutrient rich Atlantic water may result in high production in some areas, and may particularly influence distribution and abundance of sea mammals, as can be seen from analysis of historical records of hunting. The species composition of biomass may be influenced by acidification due to increased carbon dioxide uptake in the water, thereby reducing the survival of some species. Northwards shift in the distribution of commercial species of fish and shellfish is observed and is related to increased inflow of Atlantic water and reduced ice cover during the whole year, in particular in the summer period. This implies a northward extension of boreal species and potential displacement of lipid‐rich Arctic zooplankton, altering the distribution of organisms that depend on such prey. However, euphausiid stocks expanding northward into the Arctic Ocean may be a valuable food resource as they may benefit from increases in Arctic phytoplankton production and rising water temperatures. Scientific ecosystem surveys in the northern areas, as well as the fisheries, have indicated a recent northern expansion of mackerel (Scomber scombrus), cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and capelin (Mallotus villosus). These resources are found as far north as the shelf‐break north of Svalbard. Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), redfish (Sebastes spp.) and shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are also present in the slope waters between the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It is assumed that cod and haddock have reached their northernmost limit, whereas capelin and redfish have potential to expand their distribution further into the Arctic Ocean. Common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) may also be able to expand their distribution into the Arctic Ocean. The distribution of other species may well change, too ‐ to what degree is unknown. Changes in species abundance are also unknown.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 91 | Page Oral presentations

Pre‐harvest management: the evolution of arctic fish stocks governance

Alf Håkon Hoel

Institute of Marine Research, Norway

The 2005 Arctic Climate Impact Assessment predicted a number of developments in the marine Arctic that manifests themselves today. A number of fish species, for example, can now be observed at higher latitudes than previously. The ice cover of the Arctic Ocean is shrinking rapidly, and is now down to some 4 million km2 in late summer. While winter ice cover is likely to remain at some 15 million km2 for the foreseeable future, summer ice cover is likely to continue to decline, and is expected to be gone by mid‐century. The ramifications of this for marine ecosystems are hard to predict, but the prospects of fish stocks moving into previously ice covered areas in the Central Arctic Ocean has brought the coastal states (the Russian Federation, USA, Canada, Denmark/Greenland, and Norway) to negotiate an agreement on prevention of the emergence of unregulated fishing in the 2.8 million km2 High Seas area beyond national jurisdiction there (the 2015 Oslo Declaration). The agreement also provides for the establishment of a research and monitoring program, as well as the initiation of an expanded process to bring several other countries into an agreement on prevention of unregulated fishing. As of October 2016, a scientific meeting addressing a science plan for future work on monitoring of fish stocks at high latitudes had been held, and three meetings had been held in the expanded circle of governments (now also including the EU, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea as well as the Peoples' Republic of China. The purpose of this paper is to account for the development of this process from its start almost a decade ago and analyse developments since then.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 92 | Page Oral presentations

Towards a new fishing adventure? ‐‐ The snow crab in the Barents Sea

Carsten Hvingel, Jan H Sundet, Ann Merete Hjelset, Cecilie Hansen

Institute of Marine Research, Norway

The snow crab is a new species in the Barents Sea – the first specimens were discovered in 1996. Following a rapid increase in population size, a fishery began in 2012. The snow crab has high commercial value, fishing techniques, product markets are well established through the traditional fisheries for this species elsewhere, and the growth potential of the stock in the Barents Sea seems huge.

While the harvesting potential seems substantial, this new species may also impose a significant impact on the Barents Sea ecosystem. Measured in biomass, the snow crab constitutes a significant new addition to the bottom fauna and is likely to influence significantly the structure and production of the benthic communities through its foraging behaviour. This may in turn affect other species, and potentially the fisheries for other species like cod, haddock and saithe.

In order to quantify the magnitude of the harvest potential as well as the ecosystem impact of the snow crab we need estimates of stock size and means to predict its future development. However, data to inform us on snow crab population dynamics in the Barents Sea is sparse. We have developed a population dynamic model adapted to this data poor context that, in addition to data from research surveys and the fishery, uses available information from native snow crab stocks elsewhere.

The modelled historical development of the snow crab stock in the Barents Sea is presented and discussed along with predictions of future snow crab population development and its implications for harvest potential and ecosystem impact.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 93 | Page Oral presentations

Ecosystem Based Management in the Arctic: from definition to action.

Lis Lindal Jørgensen 1, Phill Mundy 2, Alf Håkon Hoel 3, Hein Rune Skjoldal 3, Geir Ottersen 3, Per Arneberg 3, Randi Ingvaldsen 3, Melissa Chierici 3, Elvar Hallfredsson 3

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2NOAA, USA, 3IMR, Norway

The dramatic reduction in the Arctic sea ice coverage has made vast areas newly accessible to increased human activity. Increased human activities in the newly exposed areas are likely to bring increased pressures throughout vulnerable Arctic marine ecosystems, which in turn present new challenges for sustainable management of the Arctic.

Implementing the ecosystem approach to management (EA) in the Arctic during a time of profound climate change creates a heavy demand for all types of information that can guide the managers responsible for controlling and mitigating impacts of human use.

Responding to the increased information demands, Norway developed the Strategic Initiative Arctic (SI Arctic) which aims to increase the scientific knowledge base, explore options for providing ecosystem‐based advice, and establish long‐term monitoring programs. SI Arctic addresses critically important areas of the High Arctic that are within Norwegian jurisdiction.

The High Arctic, which is the focal area of this talk, makes up the northern part of the Barents Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) and the southern part of the Central Arctic Ocean LME.

The SI Arctic area encompasses Fram Strait that is the main oceanic gateway to the deep Arctic Ocean, channelling the major part of oceanic heat brought to the region by the warm Atlantic inflow. Monitoring this heat flow is particularly important because any changes could have profound implications for the marine environment, especially ice conditions, and consequently for the marine life in the Arctic Ocean.

The talk will present ongoing work within SI Arctic and relevant work within the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to evaluate the use of the ecosystem approach to management (EA) as a guide for developing ecosystem‐based advice from a scientific monitoring program.

We will 1) describe the LME‐subarea under consideration, 2) describe the ecological conditions, and existing and anticipated future human activities, 3) consider potential ecological objectives and the data collection needed to monitor that they are met, 4) introduce comparable efforts of the ICES working group on integrated assessment of the Barents Sea (WGIBAR) which is exploring means of separating human footprints from natural fluctuations through the approach of Integrated Assessment (IA) and 5) examine the ability to provide ecosystem‐based advice from the scientific results of the monitoring that is relevant to implementing the ecosystem approach to management in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 94 | Page Oral presentations

Patterns of ecosystem structure from the southern Barents Sea to the Arctic Ocean

Kirsteen MacKenzie, Lis Lindal Jørgensen

Institute of Marine Research, Norway

As Arctic marine waters warm, we are seeing changes in the abundance and distribution of ecologically and commercially important animals. Coupling between primary production in the pelagic zone and organisms in the benthic community is a defining characteristic of marine ecosystems. The amount of biomass that can be produced within each ecosystem compartment, here defined as pelagic, bentho‐pelagic and benthic functional depths, is often determined by the strength of pelagic‐benthic coupling. Pelagic‐Benthic (P‐B) coupling strength is related to timing of phytoplankton blooms and levels of stratification, meaning that cooler, ice‐influenced ecosystems with large spring bloom pulses often show very strong P‐B coupling. Warmer, more stratified systems often retain nutrients in the upper water column for longer, increasing pelagic production and thereby restricting direct nutrient flow to the benthos.

By measuring the biomass, functional group and trophic position of organisms within each ecosystem compartment, defined by organism functional depth, we can ask questions regarding ecosystem complexity and therefore nutrient availability in different areas and at different levels of the Arctic food web.

Here, catch data are categorized by the functional depth of the organisms, and ecosystem structure is analysed according to composition within and between these functional depths for six ecoregion case studies. These case studies have been selected to represent and contrast the southern (Atlantic), central (Polar front), and northern (Arctic) areas of the Barents Sea. We show how ecosystem structure varies in space, and what the implications for this variation are in terms of nutrient flow and food web complexity. These findings, stemming from the Trophic Interactions in the Barents Sea: steps towards an Integrated Assessment (TIBIA) project at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, are presented with discussion of what changes might be expected in future years under the current warming trend.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 95 | Page Oral presentations

CRISP ‐ adapting capture and handling practices to optimize catch quality and value ‐ preparing for the future fisheries

Heidi Nilsen 1, Stein Harris Olsen 1, Torbjørn Tobiassen 1, Ragnhild Aven Svalheim 1, Kjell Midling 1, Aud Vold 2

1Nofima, Norway, 2Institute of Marine Research, Norway

During the last decades, the Norwegian trawl industry has carried out considerable structuring of the fleet in order to improve profitability. However, technological advance in whitefish processing on board trawlers has been very low. The main target areas within renewal has been on fuel reduction by means of vessel design, developing different catching tools as well as making the output more efficient by use of well‐known technology. Little effort has been invested into improvement of catch handling. Therefore, one objective of the innovative research program CRISP is to focus on the quality of fish, in order to establish and increase the value of trawl‐captured fish.

The quality of fish harvested from the sea is influenced by numerous factors such as seasonal variations in feed, temperature fluctuation and the spawning pattern of the species. The quality is also strongly dependent on how the fish is treated during capture. Reduction in crew members, combined with high capture efficiency, limits the ability to improve the quality. During the trawling operations, the fish is exposed to a number of stressors, such as swimming to exhaustion, crowding in the cod end, severe barotrauma, and lack of controlled killing and bleeding. Often, the last fish in the storage bin have been dead long before bleeding, and this is the cause of insufficient exsanguination and muscle discoloration.

In CRISP, the aim is to develop technology and catching regimes that focus and maintain the quality of the catch, through catch identification, in gear‐ and through handling and processing. Controlled experiments as well as trials with commercial trawling and pilot‐scale live storage proves the possibility to perform trawling fisheries in a manner to preserve high quality of the catch. Trials demonstrate fish being exposed to less stress and consequently resulting in fillet qualities whiter in colour and with lesser blood and discolouration. In order to facilitate such high‐quality products it is essential to implement thoroughly the various mechanisms that govern quality throughout the trawling process.

Changing fisheries and fisheries practice to meet with requirements of improved utilization and handling of resources is considered a sustainable approach towards the future fisheries.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 96 | Page Oral presentations

Effects of future fisheries in coastal arctic ecosystems with different food‐web structure ‐‐ tests applying ecosystem models*

Torstein Pedersen

UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

The main objective is to investigate yield and effects of future opportunities in exploitation of marine organisms at different trophic levels in two ecosystems with different diversity. Traditional exploitation of arctic marine ecosystems has mainly targeted mammals and large fishes such as large gadoids. Effects of traditional and future harvesting strategies are compared in the contrasting ecosystems Ullsfjord and Sørfjord (70oN, northern Norway) using Ecopath with Ecosim modelling. The Sørfjord system is a low diversity, cold‐water system with dominance of Atlantic cod, while the warmer Ullsfjord has higher diversity with more boreal species. Ecopath models were based on fieldwork and extensive empirical data on catches, biomasses, mortality rates and feeding of various trophic groups, ranging from primary producers to top‐predators. In the model period, 1993‐96, large gadoids (cod, saithe and haddock) and deep‐water shrimp dominated the catches. Alternative harvesting strategies are simulated based on published 40‐ group Ecopath models for the two fjord systems (Pedersen et al. 2016, Reg. Stud. Mar. Sci. 3: 205‐215). Scenarios are run with variable harvesting effort targeting specific groups: (1) mammals, (2) large gadoids, (3) small pelagic fishes, (4) deep‐water shrimp, (5) herbivorous sea‐urchins, (6) small‐zooplankton (copepods), (7) krill, (8) macroalgae, (9) large bivalves, (10) benthic predators (crabs and gastropods). The results show that the yield and ecosystem responses to the various harvesting strategies differ markedly between the two ecosystems, generally with stronger cascading effects in the colder low‐diversity system (Sørfjord). Harvesting strategies targeting several groups at different trophic levels (e.g., gadoids, small‐pelagic fishes and zooplankton) simultaneously are evaluated. It is concluded that the ecosystem effects of future harvesting strategies depend strongly on ecosystem structure.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 97 | Page Oral presentations

Exploring the future of the Barents Sea social‐ecological system.

Benjamin Planque 1, Christian Mullon 2, Per Arneberg 3, Arne Eide 4, Jean‐Marc Fromentin 5, Sheila Heymans 6, Susa Niiranen 7, Geir Ottersen 8, Anne Britt Sandø 3, Martin Sommerkorn 9, Knut Sunnanå 3, Olivier Thébaud 5, Thorbjørn Thorvik 10

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2IRD, France, 3IMR, Norway, 4UiT, Norway, 5Ifremer, France, 6SAMS, Scotland, 7SRC, Sweden, 8UiO, Norway, 9WWF, Norway, 10Fisheries Directorate, Norway

How can we prepare ourselves to future changes in the Barents Sea social‐ecological‐ system? To answer this question, we introduce the role of scenario building for research and management and present a scenario method that has been elaborated for marine social‐ ecological systems. The method starts from single perspectives: 1) fisheries management, 2) ecosystem, 3) ocean climate and 4) governance. For each of these, current status and recent trends are summarised and scenarios about possible futures are elaborated. In a final step, single‐perspective scenarios are combined into multiple‐perspective narratives. The method is applied for scenarios about the futures of the Barents Sea. The results constitute a framework for managers, scientists, stakeholders and policy makers to prepare for the future and can be generalised to other marine social‐ecological systems.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 98 | Page Oral presentations

Managing risk in policymaking and law ECONOR ‐ "The Economy of the North 2015" ‐ integrating circumpolar knowledge on economy, social conditions and environment, for managing risk in policymaking

Iulie Aslaksen 1, Solveig Glomsrød 2

1Statistics Norway, Norway, 2CICERO, Norway

The paper presents the new ECONOR report, The Economy of the North 2015, and its comprehensive overview of the economy of the circumpolar Arctic. The circumpolar economy is described by a comparative study of socio‐economic conditions and macroeconomic development, and analysis of the petroleum sector, land use impacts in the GLOBIO model, and the relation between market and subsistence activities of indigenous peoples. The ECONOR report discusses socio‐economic aspects of climate change impacts and global resource demand and how this affects populations, livelihoods and local economies of the Arctic. The interdisciplinary integration of knowledge in ECONOR makes it useful for policy making on climate, natural resources, economic development, resilience and sustainable development in the Arctic. Regional statistical data for the Arctic have been lacking, and a main purpose of the ECONOR projects is to contribute to make available such data, and update time series, which are needed for addressing new challenges for managing risk in policymaking. The interdisciplinary approach of ECONOR addresses topics of part IV of the Science Program, through identifying risks and understanding institutional mechanisms for influencing risk management in policy making and precautionary approaches. Through presentation to the Arctic Council of The Economy of the North 2015, this knowledge is brought into Arctic policy making.

Several new findings will be highlighted in the presentation: The Economy of the North 2015 includes a study of climate policy impacts on the potential for petroleum supply from Arctic regions until 2050, based on a global petroleum model. It is assumed a climate policy scenario sufficient to reach the 2 degrees C scenario, denoted the 450 parts per million (ppm) scenario. The reference scenario is in line with the New Policy Scenario in IEAs World Energy Outlook 2014. Climate policy is represented by a global CO2‐price, initially leading to reduced demand for fossil fuels. The CO2‐price has far stronger effect on coal as it is more carbonaceous than oil and gas. The main result is that the Arctic may not lose petroleum revenues from a global climate agreement. The reason is firstly that a CO2 price may increase demand for gas. This can lead to increased gas prices for Arctic producers. At the same time, we find that oil prices do not fall as much as one could expect, as OPEC may find it profitable to reduce production to ensure roughly the same price of oil as without a climate treaty.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 99 | Page Oral presentations

Risk, climate change and Coastal Ecosystem: How science and stakeholders perceptions varies in Helgeland

Maiken Bjørkan 1, Stine Rybråten 2

1NORDLANDSFORSKNING AS, Norway, 2NINA, Norway

Climate change impacts and climate policy both pose new challenges for coastal regions, which intersect and interact with other factors such as increased competition among diverse stakeholder interests, and increased development pressure on coastal areas. Combined, these pose formidable management and planning challenges. Today, these challenges are given increased attention that underlines the relationship between human behaviour and ecosystem responses. Still, it does not account for the differences in ways of understanding ecosystem change and the drivers causing change ‐ and hence often risks. Different stakeholders perceive the factors causing ecosystem change differently, and assign differential importance of climate change relative to other drivers of change. Importantly, this is related to what different stakeholders perceive as risks and how to make meaningful policies to face these.

This paper investigates the understanding of coastal ecosystem change and risks associated with such change, and examines how and if stakeholders’ perceptions differ with regards to scientific knowledge and opinions. More particularly, we ask; what drivers of change are emphasized and communicated by key stakeholders? Moreover, to what extent are the different stakeholders concerned with climate change versus other environmental change as risks? We will draw on an empirical example from Helgeland, where different stakeholders have different perception about risk and appropriate management action with regards to the use of chemicals to control sea lice in aquaculture farms. In Helgeland, shrimp fishers voice serious concerns about the effect on shrimp despite that the responsible advisory bodies allows the practices, while fisher targeting other species seems to emphasize other risks.

These issues are important for effective and legitimate management: With improved understanding about different stakeholders’ perception, it is possible to expose and discuss biases in perceptions of key drivers of ecosystem change across stakeholder groups. Moreover, an improved understanding of key drivers of ecosystem change can be useful in land use planning at different policy levels.

Fieldwork has been undertaken in Helgeland in 2016 and 2017, with stakeholders such as fishermen, aquaculture and tourist operators in Helgeland, with a particular focus semi‐ structured interviews and media coverage.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 100 | Page Oral presentations

The practice of population‐based surveys in remote regions of the Arctic zone of Russian Federation with the participation of oil companies

Natalia Bobyreva

Northern State Medical University, Russia

This material contains an important collection of information on the application of the practice population surveys in remote regions of Arctic Russia as an example of the Nenets Autonomous District Area (NAA). This project is one of the forms of interaction between the indigenous people living in the Arctic and Russian oil companies in the region, operating in the territory of their residence, which funds the project.

The objectives of this project are; ensuring access to health care to indigenous populations, provision of medicines, screening and treatment of reindeer breeders, shepherds and their families, training of workers of indigenous origin in first aid, strengthening of relations with civil society organizations representing the interests of indigenous peoples, harmonization of relations between indigenous peoples and representatives of oil companies.

The project involved health professionals and cultural workers who move on Human Settlements reindeer herders living. Since 2008, the project began to be implemented based on hospitals closest to the camp of reindeer herders.

During the period from 2008 to 2013 examined 3289 persons of the indigenous people. According to the medical examination of the indigenous population there were many, to this rare disease, such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, hypertension, near sightedness, diabetes. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the incidence of parasitic population. The incidence parasitosis NAO population exceeds the figure of the Russian Federation for certain types of 50 times (giardiasis), other 5‐7 times (ascariasis, enterobiosis, diphyllobothriasis). This may be due to an increase in mean annual air temperature, increasing the rate of degradation of permafrost, reduced periods with stable snow cover, increased river runoff, increasing water in the reservoirs, lack of sewage entering the river Pechora, the lack of centralized water supply, sewerage, water purification system as well as the use of m eat enough fish disinfected as a raw food diet is the traditional view of power of the local population.

Therefore, this project solves a very important problem, aimed primarily at the prevention and detection of diseases at an early stage, ensuring sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the indigenous population, the formation of the indigenous population the right attitude to health problems, and most importantly, allows us to build cooperation with non‐ governmental organizations, representing the interests of indigenous people and oil companies operating in the territory of their residence.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 101 | Page Oral presentations

Precautionary Management and the Regulation of Future Fisheries: New and Exploratory Fishing under International Law

Richard Caddell

Utrecht University, Netherlands

The extensive pressures upon current commercial fisheries, compounded by the projected impacts of climate change and associated processes on marine ecosystems, appear increasingly likely to displace elements of future fishing effort towards new geographical areas, target species and fishing techniques. Nevertheless, the precise legal obligations incumbent in the pursuit of emerging fishing opportunities have thus far received minimal consideration. In the context of the precautionary management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks, where a new or exploratory fishery is contemplated, Article 6(6) of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement 1995 mandates the application of cautious conservation measures to facilitate the acquisition of sufficient data to assess the impacts of fishing on the long‐term sustainability of the stocks. Thereafter, if appropriate, conservation and management measures may be adopted to allow for the gradual development of the fishery and its eventual transition to commercial exploitation. Although these obligations have been advanced and implemented by a number of regional bodies, there has been little appraisal of the regulation of new and exploratory fisheries during this interim stage. This contribution accordingly collates and evaluates the present international law and practice in respect of new and exploratory fisheries, with particular reference to pioneering developments within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), alongside the continued elaboration of policies and procedures to regulate exploratory fisheries within other bodies, with a view towards the elaboration of interim management principles for the emerging fisheries of the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 102 | Page Oral presentations

The Load Lines Convention and Arctic Navigation

Aldo Chircop

Dalhousie University, Canada

When it enters into force on 1 January 2017, the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), adopted recently by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will introduce a new era of international regulation for polar shipping. While the Polar Code provides a comprehensive treatment of standards and rules for maritime safety and protection of the marine environment from pollution from ships, the issues it addresses are not exhaustive and it has gaps that will needed to be addressed with operational experience. The Code is silent on load lines and its maritime safety provisions have to be read together with loading rules regulated elsewhere. The key instrument is the International Convention on Load Lines (LLC), 1966, as amended, which is a key maritime safety instrument establishing rules for the safe loading of ships on international voyages in all navigational environments. These rules are important for the safety of life and property at sea, because overloading of ships can substantially affect the ability of a vessel to maintain its stability during navigation in different trading regions, seasonal and weather conditions, potentially threatening the loss of the vessel. In polar navigation, overloading can exacerbate risks from ice build‐up on the ship’s superstructure. The LLC Convention does not contain rules for polar shipping, unlike for other navigable waters, and rule for navigation in the North Atlantic are applied as a matter of practice. The presentation discusses the origins and functions of load line standards and rules for maritime navigation, and considers their role in polar shipping safety. The presenter concludes that, at some point the LLC Convention will need to be revisited to clarify the applicable rules for polar shipping. The paper is based on ongoing research on polar load lines led by the presenter within the International Working Group on Polar Shipping of the Comité Maritime International.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 103 | Page Oral presentations

Stringent Policy Responses to New Risks? Arctic International Environmental Regulation of Maritime Industries in Comparative Perspective

Benjamin Hofmann

University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

The paper studies the stringency of international regulatory responses to new environmental risks using the example of maritime industries in the Arctic. The growth of maritime industries in the Arctic poses additional environmental risks to this ecologically vulnerable region. To what extent have these risks been responded to in a regulatory stringent or lax way? While some observers are comfortable with recent regulatory advances such as the IMO Polar Code for shipping, others point to persisting gaps. The paper assesses the stringency of public international regulations in the Arctic that address environmental impacts occurring from maritime shipping and offshore oil and gas production operations, and compares it globally.

The assessment builds on a new concept of regulatory stringency that amends typologies of regulatory design from International Relations, International Law, and Economics. Stringency is defined here as the product of the formal tightness and substantive ambition of regulations. Tightness refers to the legality, precision, and monitoring and enforcement system of a regulation. Ambition covers changes in substantive scope, as well as in the level of requirements compared to prior regulation and to regulation elsewhere on the globe. The concept is operationalized through a two‐tiered, multi‐dimensional, ordinal‐scale index.

The paper presents a new database that describes empirical variance in the stringency of international environmental regulations of maritime shipping and offshore oil and gas production from 1950 to 2015. For the Arctic, it covers regulations drafted by international regulatory bodies such as the IMO, Arctic Council, and OSPAR Commission. Regulations that wholly or partly cover the Arctic are compared to regulations in other vulnerable sea regions, such as Antarctica, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Within the Arctic, regulatory stringency is compared across regulators, industries, external effects, and time.

The paper summarizes emerging patterns in the stringency of international regulatory responses to new environmental risks. The findings are relevant for scientists and policy‐ makers alike. Scientists can use them to inquire into the causes of lax or stringent regulation, and into its political, economic and ecological effects. Arctic policy‐makers can use them to identify potentials and blueprints for the development of more stringent regulations in the future.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 104 | Page Oral presentations

Managing and mitigating risk in the permitting process: how can a regulatory navigation tool as the ARCT empower stakeholders and local communities?

Eva Høifødt

UiT‐The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

The ARCT (Arctic Regulatory Checklist Tool) is an online tool to navigate through complex Arctic regulatory processes with the goal to manage non‐technical risk better. Capital‐ intensive Arctic offshore oil and gas projects face both technical and non‐technical risk. Policy Makers put tremendous efforts in regulating and managing risks and Industry use significant time and money in the permitting. This is often a very expensive process for all parties, and stakeholders may struggle to comprehend their position and situation (Technical risk is addressed through natural sciences and technology and is outside the scope of this work).

Non‐technical risk emanates from regulatory, social, political, economic and cultural factors. It may be surprising that non‐technical risk often associated with lack of social license to operate (SLO) causes greater delays than technical risk (Smits, Justinussen, Bertelsen 2015). Addressing non‐technical risk associated with SLO is therefore a tri‐sector (public, private, civil society) prerogative. ARCT is an online tool for collaborative checklists, expert guidance, factsheets and case studies to address social expectations and regulatory risk using. The ARCT project, led by the entrepreneurial business Kaisa Consulting AS, was awarded Innovation Norway grants on 7 September 2016 and will be created by multi‐cultural and multi‐disciplinary teams of native/locals, academia and industry.

My Master’s thesis seeks to evaluate from an independent academic viewpoint, how the ARCT tool can contribute to manage non‐technical risks around SLO by empowering stakeholders, environment and benefit societies as a whole. As such, my thesis contributes to the Arctic extractive industries non‐technical risk and SLO field. In this presentation, I wish to discuss the following topics:

How can the ARCT‐tool be designed so that it, to the greatest possible extent, can help to strengthen stakeholder’s position? And, in addition building confidence and legitimacy to projects at an early stage?

How can academic participation help the ARCT methodology become a transparent way to ensure responsible stakeholder engagement?

Arctic Frontiers 2017 105 | Page Oral presentations

The Petroleum Safety Authority's (PSA) perspective on Risk and Risk Management in the Norwegian Petroleum Industry

Torleif Husebø, Else Riis Rasmussen

Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA), Norway

The Norwegian HSE regulations for the on‐ and offshore petroleum industry is built on functional requirements which define what safety level is required, while the industry are, to a large extent, free to determine how to achieve this. With this background, we will explain the PSAs perspective on risk and risk management as a principle for ensuring sufficient safety levels.

In an update to the regulations from 1st January 2015, PSA emphasizes that risk is to be interpreted as the consequences of the activities with the associated uncertainty.

Through results from audits and investigations, we have identified a need for improvements in the processes and tools used to manage risk. The industry use of the risk concept has, to a large extent, become a single minded mechanical approach with models and calculated risk geared towards accept/non‐accept. By focusing on the uncertainty related to the consequences of the activities, we seek to clarify the need for a holistic and comprehensive basis for decisions, with emphasis on leadership and the understanding of risk.

We will question where the industry is today regarding understanding and use of the risk concept, and support this with examples and experiences.

Further, we will give insight into ongoing work on a note on the PSAs perspective on risk management in the industry, and elaborate around “The road to risk informed decisions”. Through this project, we pose a number of questions to the industry and to ourselves related to whether the industry has an agreed and holistic understanding about risk management, and seek to describe our professional view and our approach to risk management.

Risk analyses are, and will continue to be, a central tool in risk management processes. However, we will clarify that the analyses are only one of several tools in risk management. We will highlight other central elements, and the interaction between them as a basis for functioning risk management processes; Principles for prudent operations, inherent safe design/robust solutions, barriers, principles for risk reduction, organization and competence, work force involvement, HSE culture and leadership, etc.

Through this work, we seek to clarify risk management as an integral part of the management of the business, and highlight central parts of the current regulations that are the basis for risk management, and emphasize the need for risk informed decisions, contrary to risk based decisions.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 106 | Page Oral presentations

Tackling the risks of the involvement of East Asian newcomers: Chinese multilevel actors in the Arctic

Liisa Laura Lyydia Kauppila

University of Turku, Finland

The role of East Asia is becoming increasingly decisive in shaping the international system in the era of globalisation. Especially China’s growing influence in global economy and search for a bigger role in global governance, not only as a norm‐taker but also to some extent as a norm‐maker, have come to mean that there is an increasing need to understand how to accommodate the new rising power and mitigate the risks of this process. The Arctic presents a fruitful case through which the risks of power transition can be studied, because China is entering a region that is not only dominated by Western countries and Russia but where it also shares many interests with the other East Asian countries.

This presentation argues that studying the premises of East Asian newcomers, such as China, is of crucial importance in managing the risks that the increasingly global Arctic is facing. In particular, it addresses three major concerns that the growing presence of China has risen in the Arctic community: China’s environmental practises, lack of transparency in China’s Arctic policy‐making (no official Arctic strategy published to this day) and emphasis on the protection of the rights of non‐Arctic countries – with criticism towards the Arctic Council as a related issue.

In assessing these issues from the point of view of risk management, the presentation approaches them from the perspective of multilevel actors, and thus emphasises that not only the central government but also Chinese local governments, companies and scholars all contribute to the building of possible risks that the country’s increasing involvement brings with it. Perhaps surprisingly in the context of an authoritarian state, often the actions and even the ultimate goals of these actors are independent of the central government’s Arctic calculus. Simultaneously, the presentation sets the issues in the wider frames of Chinese political culture, history and political economy, and sheds light on the Arctic discourse of Chinese experts through the use of Chinese‐language journal articles and interviews as part of the dataset. As a conclusion, the presentation provides some concrete suggestions on how to mitigate the risks that the East Asian newcomers are bringing to the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 107 | Page Oral presentations

Approaches to regulate high seas fisheries in Arctic Ocean: From Coastal State solution to accommodation of new entrants

Yu Long

Shanghai JiaoTong University, China

All States are under an obligation to cooperate in taking conservation measures when the regional fisheries management regimes are established for the performance of conservation and fish stock in high seas management. Such measures include the allocation of fishing rights, which in general are not clarified in the UNCLOS and the subsequent treaties. Instead, they leave certain discretionary room to the regimes, combined with effects of climate change on Arctic Ocean fisheries are uncertain, these would rise risks in fishery management. In the context of the Arctic Ocean fisheries, this paper will focus on what principles are applicable, and how, when states are cooperating through existing regional fisheries management regimes. Emphasis is added on discussing how new entrants are accommodated into a high seas fishery regime as well as whether they are treated in a non‐ discriminatory manner. For understanding the extent of the participatory rights, the legal consideration will focus on three aspects, including qualification of memberships, allocation of participatory rights and its implementation.

Following research will refer to state practices in the central Barents Sea (the Loophole). Fisheries management in the Loophole is a mixture of the coastal State solution and a multilateral approach on one hand, and corresponding regimes including the Joint Norwegian‐Russian Fisheries Commission (the Joint Commission) and the NEAFC on the other. Considering both of the regimes include cooperation with new entrants, the analysis will compare different approaches concerning allocation of participatory rights, and their actual implementations in the conservation and management of fish stocks in the Loophole. Finally, this paper will seek the answer whether the existing regime would satisfy the requirements that change in the fields of fishery management in response to risks. In addition, it will discuss how other cases experience could be applied to conservation and management of high seas fisheries in Arctic in general.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 108 | Page Oral presentations

Reconceptualising energy security: corporate perceptions of the Arctic energy security challenges

Maria Pavlenko, Darren McCauley, Eoin McLaughlin

University of St Andrews, UK

The majority of energy security definitions are focused on the supply‐side of the energy systems and include three components – availability, reliability and affordability of energy. Many contemporary energy security researchers, e.g. Dyer et al (2013), Hippel et al (2011), Elkind (2010), Vivoda (2010) and Yergin (2006) argue that the conventional, supply‐based definition of the energy security concept does not reflect the emerging challenges to the energy systems and, is therefore less useful to policy making. As a result, a more comprehensive concept of energy security that would include new factors and threats is needed.

The notion of energy security is context dependent. It is determined by the circumstances of the subject under consideration and by the perspective of the actor that attempts to define it. The majority of the existing literature approaches energy security from a state’s perspective (Ang et al, 2015), (Sovacool, 2014), (Hippel et al, 2011), (Yergin, 2006). The globalisation of the energy markets has prompted researchers to analyse energy security on supranational and regional levels. However, this is still based on an assumption that the decisions in regards to energy security are made, implemented and controlled by a single centre. Instead, each process and flow in the energy system is implemented by industry actors, i.e. public utilities, state and private companies.

The ultimate goal of any company, including state‐owned, is to generate profit for its shareholders, abide by the existing policies and maintain its good reputation. In theory, this should inevitably reduce the number of energy security risks that companies focus on to those that could directly affect them, which is in stark contrast to the long‐term focus of energy security policies produced by the state. Very little research has been done to assess the role energy companies play in providing security of the energy system. This research attempts to address this gap by analysing the way two major energy corporations that operate in the Arctic, i.e. Statoil and Rosneft, perceive energy security challenges associated with energy production in the Arctic. It also aims to assess the degree of convergence between the securitisation priorities of these companies and those of Russia and Norway. Preliminary findings from semi‐structured interviews with employees of Rosneft and Statoil will be presented.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 109 | Page Oral presentations

Towards a global treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction ‐‐ implications for Arctic Ocean governance?

Christian Prip

The Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway

Sea areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) cover nearly half of the Earth’s surface. Twenty percent of the Arctic Ocean are ABNJ. Concerned about growing threats to marine biodiversity of increased human activity in the previously inaccessible ABNJ, the UN General Assembly in 2015 launched negotiations to develop elements for a new international legally binding instrument under the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC) on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The process would address ‘together and as a whole’ four key topics: (1) marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits; (2) measures such as area‐based management tools, including marine protected areas; (3) environmental impact assessment and (4) capacity‐ building and the transfer of marine technology.

Biodiversity is not the only consideration to be undertaken in the Arctic Ocean, but an important one since the Ocean is holding unique biodiversity that is adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic environment. Therefore, an instrument of this kind may have important implications for Arctic Ocean management. The Ocean is unique also because it is encircled by five coastal states and because it is undergoing dramatic changes due to sea ice melting leading to growing interest and competing conceptions of the Arctic Ocean from a wide range of actors. There are commercial interests to exploit the Ocean by different industries such as shipping, fisheries and oil and gas extraction with potential risks to the fragile marine ecosystem. Environmental NGO’s view the Arctic Ocean as a unique global common in need of strong conservation measures and believe that a new global instrument under LOSC could be a tool to provide it. Some scholars have argued for a treaty to govern and protect the Arctic Ocean while others view the existing framework provided by LOSC as sufficient.

The coastal states have declared that the Ocean should remain under their stewardship and rejected any need for a new international legal regime for the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Council has further re‐emphasised a vision for regional Arctic marine governance through the establishment in 2015 of a Task Force on Arctic Marine Cooperation to consider future needs for strengthened cooperation mechanisms.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 110 | Page Oral presentations

Jurisdiction and Risk: The transboundary dilemma

Erik Røsæg

University of Oslo, Norway

Arctic Frontiers 2017 111 | Page Oral presentations

The importance of early identification of safety and sustainability risks in Arctic oil and gas operations

Torill Inga Røe Utvik

Statoil ASA, Norway

Arctic Frontiers 2017 112 | Page Oral presentations

Negotiations on the management of the living marine resources of the Central Arctic Ocean

Njord Wegge 1, Danya Rumore 2

1University of Tromsø, Norway, 2University of Utah, USA

As Arctic sea ice has retreated in recent years, discussions about how to manage potential living marine resources in the Arctic Ocean (AO) have evolved. The area beyond 200 nautical miles from the closest shores, the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO), has been particularly in question, as it is “high seas”. There are significant risks involved in harvesting new resources in previously inaccessible ice covered areas, raising concerns about the need for exercising the precautionary principle in environmental law and policy. However, strong state interests create major challenges for protecting and cautiously managing living marine resources in the CAO.

Starting out with an initiative by the five AO Coastal states (A5) in 2010, a process on how to potentially regulate the living resources of has been underway. The process has so far included meetings between scientists as well as negotiation between diplomats from the Arctic states and other high seas fisheries nations such as China, South Korea and Japan.

When reviewing the negotiation process and preliminary outcomes, it is not yet clear why certain viewpoint on how to manage the resources of the CAO have prevailed and not others. This article investigates the process as it has recently unfolded, seeking to understand how politics and scientific advice have interacted, to influence results of the negotiations on living resources in the CAO. Specifically, we investigate three sources of input: 1) the national interests of the key state actors; 2) input from key scientific expert boards and organizations including: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES); and 3) forums where key stakeholders have been engaged in idea generation, including the Arctic Councils Protection of the Arctic marine Environment working group (PAME) and the Devising Seminar on Arctic Fisheries at Harvard in 2014, and its follow up activities in Tromsø and Reykjavik .

The article’s preliminary findings suggest that the negotiation of the management of the living resources of the CAO is a process where national interests and politics interact delicately with ongoing research conducted by the natural scientists. Additionally, through informed dialogues between researchers and diplomats, informal forums for problem solving also appear to be having a beneficial effect on risk management, leading to better problem solving across interests.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 113 | Page Poster presentations

Poster presentations Reconstructing Holocene seasonal hydrographic variability in the eastern North Atlantic using bivalve shells from St Kilda, Scotland

Stella Alexandroff 1, James Scourse 1, Paul Butler 1, Bernd Schöne 2

1Bangor University, UK, 2University of Mainz, Germany

Bivalve shells like Arctica islandica and Glycymeris glycymeris can be used as highly resolved archives of past marine climate and long‐term biomonitors. The annual growth patterns of the shell reflect the environment the animals live in and by cross matching these growth patterns it is possible to construct multi‐centennial, annually resolved chronologies that form a temporal template for isotope sampling. The aim of this study is to assess differences through time in marine climate and growth rates in isolated A. islandica and G. glycymeris populations in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. In May 2014 and April 2016, we collected dead valves and live specimens of both species from St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This area is of particular interest as it is close to the Scottish shelf margin, has negligible freshwater input and is thought to represent open‐ocean North Atlantic signals well. We here compare inter‐annual and seasonal growth in modern specimens with growth in two floating chronologies, each spanning >200 years, built from dead‐collected shells. All the shells in the floating chronologies were found to have radiocarbon ages between 3700‐3300 cal yr BP. Sub‐annual δ18O data from the floating chronologies and from the modern specimens show a strong seasonal signal and multi‐year trends. We calibrate the δ18O results from the modern specimens with instrumental data, which enables us (subject to the assumption that there has been no change in δ18Owater) to compare mean and seasonal seawater temperatures between the present day and the fourth millennium BP.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 114 | Page Poster presentations

Sea ice and hypersaline ecosystems: What are common? Lessons from hypersaline lake study for sea ice ecology

Elena Anufriieva, Nickolai Shadrin

Kovalevsky Institute of Marine Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

Sea ice and hypersaline ecosystems: What are common? Lessons from hypersaline lake study for sea ice ecology

Sea ice is a very important fluctuating component in Arctic and Antarctic regions. It may cover up to 13% of the Earth’s surface area. It is one of largest habitat. Despite this, there is a lack of understanding of its ecology. Sea ice and hypersaline waters are among most harsh habitats on Earth, and they have some common features ‐ hypersalinity and polyextremality. During freezing of marine water all salts remain in the liquid portion and this leads to an increase of salinity in it. An increase of water salinity leads to lower the freezing temperature. As a result, sea ice includes the pockets of liquid concentrated brines in ice matrix permeating by a network of channels and pores. This network is a unique habitat dwelling by viruses, bacteria, algae, protists, flatworms, and small crustaceans, and they play a fundamental role in polar marine ecosystems. To live in such stressful condition organisms require a complex set of physiological and metabolic adaptations on different levels of organization ‐ from gene to community. To study and understand these mechanisms a best way is to compare ecology, physiology, biochemistry, etc. of biotic communities in sea ice and hypersaline lakes. Hypersalinity is a major stressor for ice‐dwelling organisms that is why understanding all mechanisms of osmo‐adaptation is so important. Results of many hypersaline lake studies and their hydrobionts may promote to better understand adaptations of ice‐dwelling organisms and sea ice ecosystem functioning. There are more than 50 hypersaline water bodies in Crimea, and the authors have been studying them since 2000. Organisms inhabiting hypersaline lakes use one of two strategies of osmo‐adaptation to exist in hypersaline water ‐ osmo‐regulation or osmo‐conformation. Likely that all ice‐ dwelling organisms use osmo‐conforming strategy that is carried out at the cellular level by the synthesis of compatible osmolytes and / or by obtaining them from the outside with accumulation in cells. Some photosynthesizing organisms may produce osmolytes in high concentration ‐ up to 80 % of organic matter in cell. Other organisms can use only exoosmolytes from them. There are not only intercellular mechanisms. A part of primary production, which release in ambient water as extracellular polymeric substances, is increased (up to 70‐80 % in

Arctic Frontiers 2017 115 | Page Poster presentations

Law regulation of shift work in the Arctic

Marina Arefina

Northern (Arctic) Federal University; Northern State Medical University, Russia

A shift work method is a form of labour organization. Currently, shift work is quite relevant to the Arctic territory. Although for a long time, the Arctic was not suitable for human habitation.

The Arctic zone includes territory of the Russian Federation, Norway, Canada and others. Necessity for shift work leads to the exuberant development of the world economy. Important role in this played by the able‐bodied, highly skilled people in extreme conditions.

Lately, happens negative changes in field of labour. It is happens, because legal guarantees and reimbursement cannot make up for shortfall material and psychological resources, which related to working and living in the extreme Arctic conditions. This deficiency can be compensated by the analysis of the legal regulation of shift work.

One of the possible solutions to this situation is to analyse the legal regime of shift labour in the Russian Federation and other countries of the Arctic territory and detected the advantages and disadvantages of regulation. It is the aim of our work.

Legal regulation in the RF by means of special documents, which include: the Russian Constitution, Labour Code of the RF, RF laws “On state guarantees and compensations for those working and living in the Far North and equated localities” February 19, 1993 № 4520‐ 1" and other. In Norway, the organization of shift work is constructed "Act of February 4, 1977 №4 labour protection, working conditions and so on.", "Regulation on labour protection and labour conditions in the petroleum activities on 27.11.1992g.", "Law on the petroleum activities on the 22.03. 1985 g.№11". Optimal conditions for shift work in Canada are primarily by collective agreements, and employment contracts.

Now, there is no well‐defined technology for realization legal issues of labour in the Arctic zone. The labour relations in the Arctic do are not studied all ‐ around and integrated.

Comparative analysis of the legal regime of shift work in the Arctic countries will identify regulatory shortcomings. Comparative analysis of the legal regime of shift labour in the Arctic countries will identify regulatory shortcomings and learn the positive aspects in the legislation of other countries to effectively using shift work in the Russian Federation.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 116 | Page Poster presentations

Distribution, population demographics, and bycatch of skates in the Northwest Atlantic

Sheila Atchison, Wojciech Walkusz, Kevin Hedges

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada

Increased awareness of the susceptibility of skates to fishing pressures (including incidental bycatch) has led to a number of policy and management initiatives globally and within Canada. Frameworks, such as Canada’s National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, have been put in place to improve the management of elasmobranch fisheries and bycatch in Canada. This framework includes the adoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, which takes into consideration ecosystem structure and function, along with the health of populations of commercial and non‐ commercial species. The purpose of this study is to use available fisheries‐independent data to describe the distribution and population demographics (i.e., sex ratio and length frequency) of skate species in Davis Strait, and to quantify skate bycatch using commercial trawl data.

Approximately 10 species of skate are known to occur in Davis Strait (more specifically the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Subarea 0). Although there is no directed skate fishery in this area, skates are caught as bycatch in commercial Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and Striped Shrimp (Pandalus montagui) fisheries. Skates are a k‐selected group, meaning they are generally long‐lived, slow‐growing, and late‐to‐mature with low fecundity. Their life history makes them particularly susceptible to exploitation, as their populations are not resilient against frequent (relative to fecundity) or sustained high mortality. As skates occupy a high trophic position, skate mortality may impact the trophic dynamics of the broader Arctic marine ecosystem.

Along with fishing pressure, climate change is expected to affect skate populations through altered community structure and trophic dynamics (i.e., through changes in fish distributions) in Arctic marine ecosystems. Ultimately, a better understanding of the distributions, population demographics, and bycatch rates of skates in the Northwest Atlantic will help inform the development of policies, management practices, and public awareness that will benefit the long‐term health of skate populations and ecological sustainability of marine fisheries.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 117 | Page Poster presentations

Regulation of gene expression underpins tolerance of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis to increased pCO2

Allison Bailey 1, Pierre De Wit 2, Peter Thor 1, Howard Browman 3, Reidun Bjelland 3, Steven Shema 3, David M. Fields 4, Jeffrey Runge 5, Cameron Thompson 5, Haakon Hop 6

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2University of Gothenburg, Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences, Sweden, 3Institute of Marine Research, Austevoll Research Station, Norway, 4Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, USA, 5Gulf of Maine Research Institute, University of Maine, USA, 6Norwegian Polar Institute and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Ocean acidification is the increase in seawater pCO2 due to the uptake of anthropogenic CO2. While occurring worldwide, the largest changes are predicted to occur in the Arctic seas in the coming centuries. For some marine organisms, this change in pCO2, and associated pH decrease, represents a significant stressor. The ability to maintain physiological functioning and fitness despite short‐term changes in environmental drivers is referred to as phenotypic buffering, which can be achieved by regulation of gene expression. In this study, we investigated the gene expression patterns of nauplii of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis subjected to pCO2 levels relevant for future projections of ocean acidification. Because organismal‐level performance, such as development and growth, is unaffected by these pCO2 levels, this study sought to understand the molecular response to increased pCO2 and elucidate whether altered gene expression was the mechanism by which these Arctic organisms phenotypically buffered high pCO2. Nauplii from wild‐caught Calanus glacialis were cultured at four pCO2 regimes (320, 530, 800, 1700 µatm) for two months. Two pooled samples of nauplii were collected from each of three replicate culture tanks per pCO2 treatment, the mRNA extracted and the entire transcriptome sequenced using RNAseq. A de novo transcriptome was compiled and the expressed sequences (contigs) were annotated with the proteins they coded for using NCBI and Uniprot databases. The physiological functionality of the proteins was categorized using Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathways. We found that the expression of 151 contigs varied significantly with pCO2 (93% down‐ regulated in high pCO2). Further, gene set enrichment analysis revealed that numerous GO‐ defined biological processes were significantly affected by pCO2 (1093; 92% down‐ regulated). Sodium:proton antiporters (ion pumps) were significantly up‐regulated in high pCO2, indicating that these were important for maintaining cellular pH homeostasis. Of the many processes down‐regulated in high pCO2, many were components of the universal cellular stress response (CSR), including DNA repair, redox regulation, protein folding, and proteolysis. Our results show that C. glacialis significantly alter their gene expression in response to increased pCO2, at the same time, as they are able to maintain normal larval development. In predicting the effects of future ocean acidification on marine organisms, understanding what confers tolerance to some species will help our ability to extrapolate experimental findings to more species.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 118 | Page Poster presentations

Reproductive investment of the bivalve Arctica islandica in Northern Norway

Irene Ballesta‐Artero 1, Michael Carroll 2, Rob Witbaard 1

1NIOZ, Netherlands, 2Akvaplaniva

The bivalve Arctica islandica is a subtidal species that inhabits coastal waters in the boreal North Atlantic. The species is the longest‐lived non‐colonial animal known at present, with a longevity of over 500 years. Our research studied the energy investment into soma and gonads of a population from Ingøya, Northern Norway. Seasonal changes of gonadal and somatic tissues were reported from February 2014 to January 2016. Gonadal mass index reached its maximum values in early summer and early autumn. This results seems to indicate that A. islandica from this population has two main spawning periods through the year.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 119 | Page Poster presentations

Can shell growth in high Arctic marine bivalves be linked to the 11‐year solar sunspot cycle? A case study from the early Holocene Climate Optimum.

Lars Beierlein 1, Mihai Dima 2, Bernd R. Schöne 3, Otto Salvigsen 4, Thomas Brey 5

1Hartley Anderson Limited, Scotland, 2Department of Matter Structure, Physics of the Atmosphere and Earth, University of Bucharest, Romania, 3Institute of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany, 4Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway, 5Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

Bivalve shells are reliable bio‐archives for sub‐annual to multi‐decadal climate reconstructions. The well‐established and calibrated bivalve species Arctica islandica is long‐ lived (500 years), abundant in the fossil record and widely distributed in the North Atlantic. The reconstruction of atmosphere‐ocean phenomena, such as NAO, has been demonstrated successfully in this species. Here we present data from early Holocene (9,800 cal yrs BP) A. islandica specimens from Svalbard (79°N). All specimens exhibit a pronounced 11‐year periodicity in their internal shell growth banding pattern. We hypothesise that this cycle is associated with insolation changes driven by the solar sunspot cycle and that quasi‐decadal changes in UV radiation (and UV‐B in particular) might act as an amplifying mechanism. In the high Arctic, where the summer bivalve growing season is characterised by 24‐hour daylight, solar energy is the key limiting factor of plankton growth, the main food source for this species. Changes in plankton availability, as a direct result of varying solar radiation, are likely to be reflected in annual shell growth increments.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 120 | Page Poster presentations

An Underwater hyperspectral imaging (UHI) system for environmental mapping and monitoring of benthic hard bottom habitats

Frank Beuchel 1, Ingrid Myrnes Hansen 2, Ragnhild Pettersen 1, Jenny Bytingsvik 1, Perrine Geraudie 1, Carl Ballantine 1, Lars Martin Sandvik Aas 2, Stefan Ekhaug 2, Geir Johnsen 3, Jørgen Berge 4

1Akvaplan‐niva, Norway, 2Ecotone, Norway, 3NTNU, UNIS, Norway, 4UiT, UNIS, Norway

Underwater hyperspectral imaging (UHI) utilizes species‐specific optical fingerprints, reflected from objects of interest (OOI) when illuminated with external light sources. By using a unique spectral library containing optical fingerprints of a range of OOI’s, the UHI system can automatically identify these OOI’s. Common techniques used for mapping and surveillance today are video transects and still images which are a proven but time consuming and subjective methods. To accommodate the need for mapping and surveillance of large areas of seabed, more effective and objective tools are required.

In a joint‐industry project, financed by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners, the UHI system have been further developed for identification, monitoring and mapping of benthic habitats in situ using ROV. In parallel, the UHI was also tested of its capability as a biomonitoring tool. The aim was to validate the use of the UHI sensor to generate health status information of aquatic animals through laboratory experiments.

Coastal benthic communities in Arctic fjords of Norway outside Tromsø and Svalbard have traditionally been monitored by SCUBA‐ diving and are based on traditional photographs and semi‐automatous image analysis. This method is time consuming, involves human risk and can only cover a small area per unit time. By implementing UHI on ROV, we have developed a new time efficient, cost effective and objective tool that is able to cover a larger area in much shorter time. Comparative studies of picture analysis from UHI transects and semi‐ autonomous analysis shows that UHI is capable of detecting the most important species and conspicuous bottom features, which can be regarded as bio‐indicators for natural variability and long‐term changes in coastal benthic communities or as mapping and surveillance tool of more remotely located sites. The combined information of field‐based data and laboratory experiments have a great potential to contribute to the development of new monitoring protocols for hard bottom benthic habitats in arctic and northern areas.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 121 | Page Poster presentations

Origin of Fucus distichus (Fucales, Phaeophyta) in Svalbard.

Samuel Black

Scottish Association for Marine Science, Denmark

Understanding phylogeography of Arctic macroalgae continues to generate new insights regarding connectivity between the North Pacific and North Atlantic. This is particularly apparent for species such as F. distichus, which is expanding its distribution northward as the glacial ice recedes. The migration history of F. distichus was recently studied using an intergenic spacer (IGS) from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which suggested that the ancestral core population of the species is centred over the Canadian Arctic, as opposed to traditional concepts assuming a North Pacific origin. Using the same mtDNA IGS, this study examined four F. distichus populations in Svalbard, aiming to expand the phylogeographic knowledge of F. distichus with Arctic North Atlantic populations. The data and subsequent analyses indicates the species’ recent recolonization and poleward expansion towards the archipelago and highlights that the populations of F. distichus in Svalbard are dominated by the same ancestral Arctic/Subarctic mtDNA haplotype that dominates in the Canadian Arctic, showing a strong connectivity between populations of F. distichus across large geographic distances. Although the results are unable to identify implicitly the origin of F. distichus in Svalbard, the results strengthen our understanding of the phylogeography of Arctic macroalgae and their responses to the Pleistocene glaciations and interglacials.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 122 | Page Poster presentations

Monitoring primary productivity through Chlorophyll‐a content estimation in the Arctic

Katalin Blix 1, Torbjørn Eltoft 2

1UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2CIRFA/ UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Monitoring primary productivity in the Arctic Ocean waters has received increased interest in recent years due to the rapid environmental changes. Retreating and thinning sea ice, with increased light penetration, and favourable nutrient conditions, have opened new habitats for phytoplankton. Similar, to terrestrial plants, phytoplankton also uses photosynthesis in order to live and grow. Photosynthetic processes take place in the Chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) molecule. Therefore, the monitoring of Chl‐a content may be an efficient way of retrieving information about the health status of the Arctic waters.

The absorption spectrum of the Chl‐a is within the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and hence it is retrieved with optical imaging sensors. There are several operational optical sensors, which are acquiring data over the Arctic, such as NASA’s operational Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard AQUA (MODIS‐ AQUA), Sentinel‐2A and Sentinel‐3.

In order to retrieve information about the Chl‐a content from optical imaging satellite data, accurate, fast and robust algorithms are required. In the case of MODIS‐AQUA, the state‐of‐ art algorithm is the so‐called OC3 model. However, it has been found that this algorithm often results in under‐ and overestimates of the Chl‐a concentrations when applied at Arctic latitudes. In order to improve Chl‐a content estimates, we propose to use alternative regression models, and in this paper, we will examine two new powerful regression models, namely, the Gaussian Process Regression model (GPR) and the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) model.

GPR is known to be a flexible machine learning algorithm, with several advantageous properties. It has an analytical solution, a strong regression capability and excellent performance. In addition to the estimated Chl‐a content, the output of the model also includes the predictive variance. Thus, the certainty level of the estimated Chl‐a content can also be accessed in an automatic way.

The PLSR model has also been successfully applied for Chl‐a content estimation for the optically challenging oceanic waters. PLSR is an iterative statistical model, which has several advantageous properties. It can cope with co‐linearity between spectral features, and reduce the effect of noise in the data. It also can do regression with multidimensional outputs.

In this paper, we demonstrate how maps of estimated Chl‐a content in Arctic waters can be generated from remote sensing optical sensors using the GPR and PLSR models. In particular, we compare performances of these two algorithms to the state‐of‐the‐art OC3 model for various sensors and spatial resolutions.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 123 | Page Poster presentations

Adventures in a new Arctic frontier: Investigating the tidal‐driven 'winter holes' and 'summer gardens' of the Kitikmeot Marine Region of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

William Williams 1, Bodil Bluhm 2, Kristina Brown 3, Eddy Carmack 1, Chris Clarke 1, Seth Danielson 4, Lina Rotermund 5, Adrian Schimnowski 6, Oksana Schimnowski 7

1Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada, 2UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 3Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, 4University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, 5University of Victoria, Canada, 6Arctic Research Foundation, Canada, 7Polar Knowledge Canada, Canada

We report preliminary results from an August 2016 expedition to the Kitikmeot Marine Region – which includes Coronation Gulf, Bathurst Inlet, Queen Maude Gulf and Chantry Inlet in the southern Canadian Arctic Archipelago ‐ aboard the 20m RV Martin Bergmann. We used a suite of oceanographic tools including CTD/Rosettes, underway ADCPs, CTDs, and surface water sensors, towed thermistor‐fluorometer chain, bottom cameras, benthic grabs, ocean and river geochemistry and satellite‐tracked surface drifters to undertake a hypothesis‐driven survey of the regional marine ecosystem.

The Kitikmeot Marine Region is unique in the pan‐Arctic system because of its massive freshwater input relative to the area’s size, and for the shallow bounding sills to the north and west (≤30m deep). These conditions maintain an estuarine‐like circulation wherein surface inflowing freshwater mixes with the deep inflowing salty oceanic waters. Strong stratification generally restricts vertical mixing and the upward fluxes of dissolved nutrients. The resulting low annual primary productivity affects the entire food web, and we speculate that this is why the region supports char and seals as top predators instead of the larger polar bears and whales that are found elsewhere. However, observations by residents, and high‐resolution satellite imagery, suggest that the narrow gaps and straits between the many islands of the Kitikmeot can be prone to early ice‐breakup, making them dangerous places for winter travel. We thus hypothesize that these ‘winter holes’ are caused by upward mixing of subsurface heat, induced as tidal flow accelerates over sills and through narrow passes. Furthermore, the subsurface water is nutrient‐rich, so the same upward mixing will also deliver nutrients to the euphotic zone year‐round, creating local regions of enhanced biological productivity and a patchwork of nearby benthic ‘gardens’ that contrast with the region’s overall very low productivity. Such biological hotspots may form critical feeding sites for the higher trophic levels.

Our preliminary results show that these sites are often characterized by high tidal current velocities and a predominance of hard bottom substrate with high proportions of suspension‐feeding taxa such as feather stars and certain sea cucumbers. Currents slowed outside the narrows, where soft bottom became more prominent which were inhabited by deposit‐feeding brittle stars and bristle worms. The next stages of sample analyses and data synthesis are expected to reveal a dynamic ecosystem, forced by the physical flow field and external inputs of nutrients and freshwater.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 124 | Page Poster presentations

Benthic community structure, food web and contaminant loads reflect the physically very dynamic Beaufort Sea shelf and strong land‐ocean interactions

Bodil Bluhm 1, Kenneth Dunton 2, Greg Durell 3, Jeremy Kasper 4, Scott Libby 5, Susan Schonberg 2, Alexandra Ravelo 4, John Trefry 6

1UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2University of Texas at Austin, USA, 3NewFields, USA, 4University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, 5Battelle, USA, 6Florida Institute of Technology, USA

The shelf of the Beaufort Sea is defined by dynamic physical and biological gradients that have a distinctive influence on benthic standing stocks, trophic structure and distribution of contaminants. During the Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in Development Area (ANIMIDA) project phase III (2014‐2016) we conducted an ecosystem study characterizing parts of this shelf in terms of its physical oceanography, benthic community and food web structure, and contaminant foot print (hydrocarbons, metals) to identify relationships between human use, physical environment and ecosystem response. Contaminant concentrations measured in sediments and biota were at or near background levels throughout most of the Beaufort Sea with higher levels around historic exploratory drilling sites. Infaunal and epifaunal communities shallower than 20 m (including river mouths) were relatively depauperate in species richness and abundance/biomass, likely related to a combination of bottom fast ice, scour by deep‐draft ice, and extreme salinity changes during spring break‐up. The 2015 freshet on the North Slope of Alaska was marked by the rapid onset of melt simultaneously across the entire slope resulting in melt water rapidly spreading both over and under the sea ice north from the coast. The freshet also delivered the vast majority of the annual suspended solids to the Beaufort Sea within a 2‐3 week period including input of hydrocarbons from terrestrial sources. Still, fish, amphipods, and clams contained background levels of hydrocarbons and lacked evidence of effects from accumulation of contaminants. Deeper shelf areas outside of such perturbations were more species rich than areas inshore of 20 m, with high community turnover related to depth on the shelf break and slope. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of benthic organisms, particulate organic matter and zooplankton revealed a mixture of carbon sources available to benthic consumers, consisting mostly of phytoplankton, benthic microalgal matter and terrestrial sources. In summary, the benthic community and food web structure, and contaminant loads reflected the physically very dynamic nature of the Beaufort Sea shelf, characterized by strong land‐ocean interactions.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 125 | Page Poster presentations

Deeper into little auks' prey availability ‐ estimation of their feeding grounds with artificial neural network

Rafał Boehnke 1, Marcin Wichorowski 1, Emilia Trudnowska 1, Kaja Ostaszewska 2, Stig Falk‐ Petersen 3, Haakon Hop 4, Katarzyna Błachowiak‐Samołyk 1

1Institute of Oceanology Polis Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2Institute of Oceanology Polis Academy of Sciences, Centre for Polar Studies, Leading National Research Centre, 3Akvaplan‐ niva, Norway, 4Norwegian Polar Institute, UiT, Norway

An Artificial Neural Network is a mathematical paradigm that imitates the operations of biological neural systems. The ability of ANN to learn from the environment, make it highly suited for solving difficult behavioural processing problems. In our research ANN “mime” the neural system of planktivorous little auk (Alle alle), which due to its high numbers is considered a keystone species in the Arctic ecosystem. Prediction of the quality of feeding grounds involves analysis of zooplankton samples from the environment and from chicks’ diet. The samples were collected over two summer seasons (2009‐2010) by Polish‐ Norwegian extensive sampling (WP‐2 net, 500 µm mesh size) in the vicinity of Spitsbergen fjords; located at the west coast (Hornsund, Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden, Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden) representing different hydrographical regimes. A large number of chicks’ diet samples (n=114) were used as reference. There were usually about 50 prey species identified in diet samples and 79 observed taxa, including developmental stages, in zooplankton net samples taken from little auks’ foraging grounds from within their depth range (the upper 50 m). Based on the abundance and frequency of zooplankton items in chicks’ diet samples, we divided zooplankton into three categories. The most important category from little auk’s perspective was that in which Calanus glacialis was observed in high numbers. The second category contained items that were frequently observed in diet samples, but in relatively low numbers (e.g. C. finmarchicus). The last category included rare taxa that were regarded as “unimportant” in the context of little auk’s high energy demands. We distinguished three classes of feeding grounds quality: good (quality marked as value 1), average (quality = 0.5), poor (quality = 0). Consequently, there were three “neurons” in output layer and each of them was responsible for recognition of “its” own foraging ground class. After ANN training process, where randomly selected subset of samples was used as training dataset with 400 repetitions, it was possible to conclude, which parameters significantly determine the quality of foraging ground. Neuralnet R package enabled us to predict food availability for little auks’. In opposition to standard classifications based solely on the share of the most important diet item (C. glacialis CV), ANN enriched estimation with additional features. The preliminary results indicated that the presented method is a reliable tool to estimate the quality of feeding grounds of little auks’ and a basis for further prey‐ predator relationships research.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 126 | Page Poster presentations

Seasonal dynamics of algal and bacterial communities in Arctic sea ice under variable snow cover

Karley Campbell 1, C.J. Mundy 1, Claude Belize 2, Aurelie Delaforge 1, Søren Rysgaard 3

1University of Manitoba, Canada, 2Université du Québec à Rimouski, Canada, 3University of Manitoba Canada, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Diatoms and heterotrophic bacteria dominate the microbial communities of sea ice during the spring. We assessed the composition of the spring bottom‐ice community in Dease Strait, Nunavut, and investigated potential controls of biomass and production from early March until early June. We found that flow cytometry and light microscopy estimates of photosynthetic nanoeukaryote (2‐20 μm) abundance gave comparable results, and using the average from the two methods, we documented a change in the size of cells over the spring from largely pico‐ (a, particulate organic carbon and primary productivity. Low salinity and nutrient deplete conditions in the region appeared to support rapid growth of the centric diatom Attheya spp. in particular. Increases in the number and productivity of heterotrophic bacteria in this study were largely associated with the number of photosynthetic picoeukaryote cells, potentially due to their supply of dissolved organic carbon substrate. Our results suggest that low nutrient and high light conditions predicted for the Arctic in the future may favour an algal community of centric diatoms that could increase the production potential of the ice, while picoeukaryotes remain important constituents of the ice community through their role in carbon cycling.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 127 | Page Poster presentations

Environmental variability on the Yermak Plateau over the past 200 ky reconstructed from XRF core‐scanner and X‐ray radiography data

Weng‐Si Chao 1, Ludvig Löwemark 1, Borjiun Jong 1, Jens Matthiessen 2, Matthias Forwick 3, Matt O'Regan 4

1National Taiwan University, Taiwan, 2Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung (AWI), Germany, 3UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 4Stockholm University, Sweden

Reconstructing the long‐term environmental and climatic variability in the Arctic is complicated for several reasons. First, traditional tools for age control such as oxygen isotope stratigraphy and biostratigraphy fail in most areas because of the general absence of calcareous tests during glacial periods and the corrosive bottom waters that limit interglacial preservation to the last 100 ky, or so. Moreover, any isotope signals are strongly overprinted by fresh water input by Arctic rivers.

To overcome these problems, new ways to correlate in between cores and to low‐latitude climate records must be established, and alternative paleoenvironmental proxies must be developed. Here we present the results from XRF core scanning and X‐ray radiograph analysis of one core retrieved from the Yermak Plateau during the TRANSSIZ expedition with the icebreaker Polarstern in 2015. Initial results demonstrate that variations in Ca and Mn content can be used as rough guides to identify interglacial intervals and that X‐ray radiographs of the sediment provide an independent tool for assessing the variations in biological activity during glacial and interglacial intervals.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 128 | Page Poster presentations

Arctic Productivity in the Seasonal Ice Zone ‐ Arctic PRIZE

Finlo Cottier

Scottish Association for Marine Science, UK

Arctic PRIZE is a £2.5 million project funded through the UK Natural Environment Research Council. It is a project within the NERC Changing Arctic Ocean Program that aims to understand how change in the physical environment (ice and ocean) will affect the large‐ scale ecosystem structure and biogeochemical functioning of the Arctic Ocean. Arctic PRIZE will run from 2017 to 2021 and focus its field campaigns in the Barents Sea, particularly focussing on processes and conditions that evolve in the seasonal ice zone. We will investigate the seasonally and spatially varying relationship between sea ice, water column structure, light, nutrients and productivity and the roles they play in structuring energy transfer to pelagic zooplankton and benthic megafauna. Arctic PRIZE will utilise robotics technologies (specifically ocean gliders and autonomous underwater vehicles) to target the critically important but under‐sampled seasonal transition from winter into the post‐bloom summer period. The project will also develop the predictive tools necessary to assess how the Arctic ecosystems will respond to a reducing sea ice cover. This will be achieved through a combined experimental/modelling programme. The project is embedded within international Arctic networks based in Norway and Canada and coordinated with ongoing US projects in the Pacific Arctic. A key objective of Arctic PRIZE is the forging of lasting engagement with the international Arctic research community. In particular, Arctic PRIZE is committed to the development of the next generation of Arctic researchers.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 129 | Page Poster presentations

An interdisciplinary investigation into scenarios of national and international conflicts of ecosystem services in the Svalbard zone under a changing climate in the Arctic

Dorothy Dankel

University of Bergen, Norway

The background for this paper is the 3–year project “REGIMES: An interdisciplinary investigation into scenarios of national and international conflicts of ecosystem services in the Svalbard zone under a changing climate in the Arctic” recently funded by the Research Council of Norway’s Polar Program (POLARPROG) in 2016. The focus of REGIMES is outstanding interdisciplinary research on the changing Arctic climate, which contributes to the knowledge base about trade‐offs among different ecosystem services. The archipelago of Svalbard is located at 78oN, and is vulnerable environmentally, socially as well as politically to a changing climate. People depend on ecosystem goods and services for their livelihoods, and ecosystem that are indispensable to human health and well‐being.

There is increasing concern over the impacts of climate change on ecosystem goods and services through marine fish resources abundance, distributions and interactions. Changes in the spatial distribution and relative abundance of commercially exploited and potentially valuable marine fish species are likely to change the dynamics of fishing activities and exploitation patterns.

It is very likely a warming climate will increase overall species richness and abundance in the Arctic, resulting in increased catch potential. In this paper, we first project the distribution and abundance of commercially exploited marine fish and invertebrates in the Arctic by applying Dynamic Bioclimate Envelope Model (DBEM) along with climate models (CMIP5). We then determine the potential changes in catches of the exploited fish and invertebrate species under scenarios of climate change and ocean acidification. Based on these ecological changes, we will use bioeconomic and production models to assess provisioning services in terms of marine fisheries, and further a broad ecosystem services at a society level.

Involving various stakeholders, present and future local resource users will be vital to the development and successful implementation of holistic marine and maritime strategies across the Arctic. In addition, effective and meaningful communication from stakeholder to scientist, scientist to stakeholder and across the science‐policy interface, We take a bold intra‐ and inter‐generational approach by involving high school students, adult active stakeholders (from various marine and maritime sectors, including oil and gas) and retired and elderly citizens (from local contacts and retirement homes) in our stakeholder workshops. Through a newly developed climate scenario game, students and stakeholder will interact with decision‐making scenarios, which also will elucidate ethical and philosophical discussions of trade‐offs in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 130 | Page Poster presentations

Predicting Harp Seal body condition from supervised accelerometry

Ryan Dillon

Akvaplan‐niva / UiT, Norway

Obtaining immediate estimates of the body condition for marine mammals is important for establishing where and when they obtain their main energy reserves, and thereby identifying critical feeding areas. A method recently developed to estimate body condition from body density estimates obtained using animal‐borne accelerometry sensors performs very well, but it is currently limited by post‐processing data collected from recovered data‐ loggers. In this study the performance of supervised learning algorithms used to estimate body condition are explored as alternatives to the existing Bayesian Gibbs sampling method, comparing each method’s ability to be embedded on long‐deployment satellite telemetry tags, which would allow immediate assessment of an animal’s body condition without recovery of the tag. In a captive experiment, the acceleration of 2 harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) were recorded via back‐mounted accelerometry sensors, with their body condition manipulated through attaching a combinations of weights, floats, and neutrally buoyant blocks. During the experiments, individual animals were enclosed in a net pen with a single breathing hole, allowing measurements of respiration so that estimates of total diving lung volume could be made. Characteristics of movements during glide events in 5s windows, shown in previous studies to inform the estimation of seal body condition such as dorsal‐ventral oscillation and pitch angle, are derived from raw accelerometry data and used as classifiers, with known values of body condition used as target values for training the algorithms. Models of various learning algorithms, such Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines, are selected for optimal parameterization using structural risk minimization. Comparisons of model performance are made using estimators of body condition classification accuracy, with a final comparison of processing performance made between supervised learning algorithms and existing methods for body‐density estimation in an embedded environment.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 131 | Page Poster presentations

Distribution and grazing of zooplankton dominant species in the Ob Estuary: Influence of the runoff regime.

Alexander Drits, Anna Pasternak, Mikhail Flint, Anastasia Nikishina

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russia

Estuaries are important components of the coastal ecosystems and they play the pivotal role in the interaction between terrestrial and marine environment. This is especially pronounced in the Arctic where the river runoff is large and the shelf shallow and wide. Major interactions between terrestrial and marine environment in the Kara Sea occur within the estuaries of the largest Siberian rivers, Ob and Yenisei. In the transformation of the allochtonous organic matter, an important role belongs to the mesozooplankton community. All available data on zooplankton activity in the Ob Estuary have been obtained for the period of decreased river discharge (September). Our aim was to study zooplankton distribution and assess grazing under various hydrological regimes (high‐low river discharge and varying wind direction). Zooplankton was sampled along the quasi‐latitudinal transect along the Ob Estuary in September 2007, 2013, August and end of September 2010 and end of August 2014. Zooplankton grazing was assessed with gut fluorescent approach.

Our results clearly demonstrate considerable temporal changes in abundance and spatial distribution of zooplankton coupled with seasonal variation in hydrographic regime within the Ob Estuary. Strong river runoff which is typical of the first half of summer and off‐shore winds do not allow formation of the gradient zones which serve as templates for zooplankton aggregations. Zooplankton biomass was low, peaks of species abundance spatially separated, and grazing did not exceed 2% of phytoplankton biomass. Later in the season, weakening river discharge led to formation of hydrographic fronts where zooplankton biomass considerably increased, and the peaks of abundance of the dominant species coincided. These dense aggregations form a pelagic “biofilter” utilizing daily up to 26% of phytoplankton biomass. This phenomenon appears annually in late summer – early fall under decreasing river runoff and development of the high gradient frontal zone.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 132 | Page Poster presentations

Fate of the bloom in the Arctic seasonal sea ice zone: suspended biomass, vertical flux and grazer response during a spring bloom north of Svalbard

Christine Dybwad

UiT ‐ The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

In the Arctic Ocean, biological productivity is largely determined by sea ice. The fate of production largely depends on the development and response of grazers to under‐ice blooms. To investigate the varying magnitudes and compositions of the bloom and the subsequent vertical export, short‐term sediment traps, at five depths between 30 and 200m, were deployed at eight sea ice stations north of Svalbard, during the RV Polarstern TRANSSIZ expedition in the early summer 2015. Daily patterns of chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon (POC) and contribution of zooplankton faecal pellets (FP) were discovered in distinct assemblages – conditions ranging from pre‐ to mid‐bloom development. Phytoplankton carbon (PPC) was found to be a more important component to the vertical POC flux than FP carbon (FPC), especially as the bloom progressed. The contribution of FPC flux to total POC flux was found to be in line with previous studies, revealing that the relative contribution FPC flux to vertical carbon export is variable but may diminish northward with the SSIZ. The impact of grazers was further investigated through FP production experiments of key Calanus species. The proportion of Calanus finmarchicus community‐produced FPC exported to 40m decreased from 36% to 4% from early‐ to mid‐bloom conditions, suggesting stronger zooplankton‐mediated retention as the bloom intensifies. Additionally, under slower bloom development, grazers appeared to be effectively controlling and inhibiting the accumulation of biogenic biomass and subsequent vertical flux. Lastly, the current study reveals that, during the spring bloom, the northern ice‐covered Barents Sea shelf break can provide comparable vertical export rates to its shallower and central waters.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 133 | Page Poster presentations

Coccolithophores in Svalbard waters

Jorun K. Egge 1, Sesilie F Tverberg 1, Helge A Thomsen 2, Tove Gabrielsen 3, Aud Larsen 4, Mikal Heldal 1

1University of Bergen, Norway, 2Aqua DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark, 3The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway, 4Uni Research/University of Bergen, Norway

The occurrence [HAT1] of coccolithophores in polar areas has been investigated between 79° and 82.30°N, north and west of Svalbard, during different seasons of 2014. Supplemental material was collected from Svalbard coastal areas (Adventsfjorden/Isfjorden (IsA), Kongsfjorden and Rijpfjorden) from 2012 to 2015. The sampling for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) took place in different water masses, i.e. Surface waters, Atlantic waters, and Arctic waters. A total of 28 different species were identified, however, coccolithophore numbers were always low (‐1). About half of the identified species are from the Family Papposphaeraceae (Balaniger, Pappomonas, Papposphaera and Wigwamma), known to have species in Polar waters. Many of Papposphaeraceaes are also known as heterotrophic species, and it should there not be unexpected that the coccolithophore abundance was highest during fall, when the daylight is low and phytoplankton biomass in general was sparse. Most species were observed in Atlantic Water but many of the same species were also found in Surface Water. In general, many of the coccolithophores had a broad distribution in the investigation area and we observed only small differences in species composition between open water stations and fjords, or between different water masse.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 134 | Page Poster presentations

Evaluating the strength and temperature variability of the North Atlantic current for the second half of the last millennium using an Arctica islandica‐derived increment series

Juan Estrella‐Martínez 1, Paul G. Butler 1, James Scourse 1, Christopher Richardson 1, Bernd R. Schöne 2

1Bangor University, UK, 2Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

Given their importance for planetary climate modulation, the high latitudes exemplify a blind spot in high resolution palaeoceanography. Since the marine conditions are unsuitable for the development of natural archives like corals and varved sediments, much of the published literature consists of records with, at best, decadal resolution. The annually deposited increments of the mollusc Arctica islandica can help fill this void, allowing us to study hydrographic conditions in greater detail. A strongly crossmatched increment series provides an absolute (i.e. no uncertainty) age model on which to base geochemical results obtained from the analysis of shell material. We present an extension back to 1543 of a previously published A. islandica chronology for the Fladen Ground in the northern North Sea, an area that accurately represents the North Atlantic Current. Based on modelled results, we relate the width of the growth increments to the strength of the inflow of North Atlantic waters into the North Sea through the Fair Isle Channel that affects the distribution of nutrients over the Fladen Ground. Initial geochemical analysis show that the trends in δ18O closely resemble water temperature trends for the 20th century, suggesting that the animals deposit their shells in isotopic equilibrium with the ambient water. This allows the 18 development of a local δ Oshell to temperature calibration and the construction of a continuous annual temperature record for the entire length of the chronology. This reconstruction will be an excellent resource for climate model comparisons, enabling more tightly constrained projections of future climate variability.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 135 | Page Poster presentations

40‐year multiproxy reconstruction of seawater temperature in the bay of Brest using shells of dog cockles, Glycymeris glycymeris

Amy Featherstone 1, Melita Peharda 2, Bernd Schöne 3, Paul Butler 4, Laurent Chauvaud 1, Julien Thébault 1

1Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France, 2Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia, 3Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, 4Bangor University, UK

Since the end of the 20th century, global climate change has become a major focus of politicians and scientists worldwide, the consensus being that human activities are influencing environmental changes and affecting the Earth’s ecosystems. More studies are needed to differentiate between natural variations in climate and anthropogenic influences. In order to do this, we must build a record of past long‐term natural variability in the environment. In recent years, bivalve mollusc shells have been successfully used as paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic archives through the analysis of their growth increment patterns and geochemical composition. Glycymeris glycymeris is a bivalve found in coarse‐grained subtidal sediments, with a distribution from Cape Verde to Norway. Thanks to its remarkable longevity (up to 200 years in the northern part of its geographical distribution area), it has a strong potential for building chronologies extending over several centuries, an interesting feature for long‐term climate reconstructions in temperate settings.

As part of the ARAMACC project, we developed a cross‐dated chronology of over 30 years based on internal growth increments in G. glycymeris specimens collected both live and dead from the Bay of Brest, Brittany, France. The Standardized Growth Increment (SGI), developed from more than thirty individuals (average age thirty‐two years), was found to be statistically robust (Expressed Population Signal (EPS)>0.85).

In addition to growth increment analysis, some specimens were investigated for their stable isotope composition. Samples were micromilled in the juvenile growth increments of several specimens with overlapping lifespans, and subsequently analysed for their oxygen isotope composition using a CF‐IRMS at the University of Mainz, Germany. The continuous time‐ series of oxygen isotope ratios was then compared to in situ temperature and salinity data in order to calibrate and build a localised paleotemperature equation. This equation was then used to estimate sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Brest from 1969‐2011.

Reconstructed temperatures were compared to the temperatures recorded by the monitoring station SOMLIT between 1998 and 2010, highlighting that annual maxima are recorded with a good fidelity within the shell, whereas annual minima are not. Temperature reconstruction shows that annual seawater temperature maxima greatly varied over time, with a “cool” phase until 1995 and a “warmer” phase afterwards. This shift also appears when reconstructed temperatures are averaged annually over the period of growth.

Overall, this study demonstrates that G. glycymeris can be used for long‐term, high‐ resolution, reconstructions of past sea surface temperatures in areas where long‐term instrumental data is not available.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 136 | Page Poster presentations

Age, growth rate, and otolith growth of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in fjords of Svalbard

Dariusz Fey 1, Jan‐Marcin Węsławski 2

1National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Poland, 2Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

This work presents biological information for polar cod (Boreogadus saida) collected in Kongsfjorden and Rijpfjorden in Sep‐Oct 2013. Exceptional information on presence in the Kongsfjorden unique relict population characterised by high frequency of larger‐at‐age (i.e., fast growing) specimens has been presented. The ages of polar cod collected in in Kongsfjorden (6.1 to 24 cm total length TL; n=813) and Rijpfjorden (8.6 to 15.9 cm TL; n=64) ranged from 0 to 4 years and from 2 to 3 years, respectively for Kongsfjorden and Rijpfjorden. Males and females were of the same size‐at‐age. Fish from Kongsfjorden were larger at age than those from Rijpfjorden. The growth of polar cod in length in Kongsfjorden was relatively constant during the first three years of life (approximately 5 cm year‐1), but slowed down between year 3 and 4 (approximately 3 cm year‐1). Males and females as well as specimens from the two fjords were of the same weight‐at‐TL. A strong correlation was determined between otolith size and fish size, with no difference between males and females or between fjords. A significant and strong correlation was also found between fish growth rate and otolith growth rate within age classes.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 137 | Page Poster presentations

Seasonal change in ocean acidification state in Kongsfjorden, with implications for calcifying organisms

Agneta Fransson 1, Melissa Chierici 2, Haakon Hop 1, Helen Findlay 3, Svein Kristiansen 4, Anette Wold 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 3Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK, 4UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Seasonal changes (April to July) in ocean acidification state, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) saturation for aragonite (Ωa) and calcite (Ωc) and biogeochemical properties were investigated in 2013 and 2014 in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. We investigated physical (salinity, temperature) and chemical (carbonate system, nutrient) properties in the water column from the glacier front in the fjord to the west Spitsbergen shelf. The average range of Ωa in the upper 50 m in the fjord in winter was 1.59–1.74 and in summer 1.65–2.66. The lowest Ωa (1.5) was close to the reported critical threshold for aragonite‐forming organisms such as the pteropod Limacina helicina. In summer 2013, Ωa, pHT and salinity were generally lower than in 2014 as a result of a larger influence of high‐CO2 water from the coastal current and less Atlantic water. The inner fjord was influenced by glacial water in summer that decreased Ωa by 0.7. Biological CO2 consumption based on a winter‐to summer decrease in nitrate was larger in 2014 than in 2013, suggesting more primary production in 2014. The influence of freshwater decreased Ωa by the same amount as the biological effect increased Ωa. The seasonal increase in temperature only played a minor role on the increase of Ωa. The biological effect showed more inter‐annual variability than the effect of freshwater. Based on this study, we suggest that changes in the inflow of different water masses and freshwater directly influence ocean acidification state, and indirectly affect the biological drivers of carbonate chemistry in the fjord.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 138 | Page Poster presentations

Winter‐to‐spring evolution of Arctic Ocean acidification state in under‐ice water and effect of sea‐ice processes during N‐ICE 2015 ice drift project

Agneta Fransson 1, Melissa Chierici 2, Philipp Assmy 1, Paul Dodd 1, Mar Fernandez‐Mendez 1, Mats Granskog 1, Amelie Meyer 1, Daiki Nomura 3, Anja Rösel 1, Anna Silyakova 4, Harald Steen 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 3Hokkaido University, Japan, 4CAGE, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean surface waters is affected by physical and biological processes such as sea‐ice processes, freshwater supply, vertical mixing, gas fluxes, primary production and bacterial activity. However, there are few winter‐to‐spring investigations of the effect of sea‐ice processes such as thin ice formation after opening of leads and brine rejection on the carbonate chemistry and ocean acidification state in the underlying water. During the N‐ICE 2015 Arctic Ocean drift study north of Svalbard (latitude 80° to 83°N, longitude 8°E to 28°E) onboard RV Lance, we gained unique data from winter to spring (January to June 2015). On the winter‐to‐spring seawater samples, we analysed total inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (AT), nutrient concentrations (nitrate, phosphate, and silicic acid), salinity and temperature and derived pH, fCO2 and calcium carbonate saturation (Ω). During the study, the carbonate chemistry changed so that pH and fCO2 decreased in the upper 100 meters due to changes in physical and biological processes, and the southward drift from Arctic water to Atlantic water. Vertical mixing, brine rejection, meltwater and primary production influenced the variability of the carbonate chemistry in the mixed layer during the winter‐to‐summer season.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 139 | Page Poster presentations

Who pays the piper principle: environmental science at the service of industry in the Russian Arctic

Nadia French

University of Birmingham, UK

It is not news that science has been the backbone of industrial and societal progress (e.g. pharmaceutical industry, nuclear energy, etc.). The climate change paradigm, however, has fundamentally transformed the way academic environmental science now interprets its object and its own role in relation to it. The environment is no longer seen as a mere source and sink at the service of humans, and the interests of environmental science and the industry have never been further apart. So how do we measure and evaluate the risks posed by the influence of the industry on the scope, depth and results of an ecological study and the amount and quality of ecological data the industry receives onto their operations? The study explored the science‐industry interrelations, institutional and extra‐institutional networks and the conflicts of interest in the Russian Arctic noosphere by analysing reports, publications and patents authored by scientists related to the Russian Arctic exploitation in view of the Russia’s 2013 Strategy for the development of the Russian Arctic Zone. While the industry implies public and private user groups financially invested into industrial development of the Arctic resources, the science includes all in‐house, commissioned and independent sources of scientific materials related to environmental protection, remediation, and cleanup in areas affected by the development. The study found that Russia’s academic isolationism, traditions of research justification through its usefulness to the state and/or the industry as opposed to the search for truth, institutional problems, i.e. low pay in academia, predominant state funding, and co‐optation of scientists by mining corporations (e.g. A. Chilingarov, A. Sinitskiy, etc.) showed the complex nature and tight intersection between science and scientists and the industry that escapes unequivocal evaluation. Such a system of mutual cooperation bears inherent risks for both the Arctic ecosystems and the credibility of the Arctic science that helps boost the importance and benefits of the exploitation while censoring the negative impacts and potential irreversible damage of such industrial expansion. The solutions to such an arrangement may be found in further inclusion of the Russian academia into the international scientific discourse, institutional reforms (e.g. separation of science as practice from science as institution and insurance of independence of the former), and safeguarding mechanisms (e.g. ethical self‐ assessment, disclosure of all affiliations, international cross‐referencing).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 140 | Page Poster presentations

Managing environmental risks in the Arctic ‐ What can we learn from circumpolar governance on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

Doris Friedrich

University of Vienna, Austria

The 2014 assessment of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program of the Arctic Council (AMAP) contemplated four classes of pollutants especially relevant to the Arctic, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and chemicals of emerging concern. These pollutants pose serious threats to the health of the Arctic ecosystem and people living in the North, in particular due to their tendency to accumulate in the fatty tissue of marine mammals, which are an important part of traditional subsistence food in many Arctic coastal areas. Already people refrain from eating various foods due to the uncertainty on the health risks and partially a miscommunication about the pollution.

The protection of the Arctic environment was one of the main motivations for establishing the Arctic Council. In the past, the Arctic nations have played a pivotal role for several agreements on environmental protection, such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which can be considered as a positive example of Arctic cooperation and targeted action. However, not all Arctic States have ratified the Convention and its amendments, which regularly add pollutants to its scope. Thus, the environmental legislation in the Arctic states does not catch up with the scientific findings and recognition of these threats.

An effective governance on POPs however requires a precautionary approach, a circumpolar cooperation of POPs research and monitoring and the regular adaptation to emerging chemicals of concern. National initiatives have achieved some success in reducing the production and use of POPs. A declining trend has been noted in the case of “legacy POPs” phased out already decades ago. Yet, new pollutants of concern emerge repeatedly. A more comprehensive approach encompassing a list of pollutants corresponding to state‐of‐the‐art research within a global legislative framework thus seems indispensable.

This paper will examine the efforts and cooperation of the Arctic nations towards circumpolar and global governance on pollutants, the mechanisms and criteria through which the risks associated with POPs are evaluated, as well as the effectiveness of the regulations existing to date. What is more, it will be analysed how regulations on POPs and the communication on health risks impact Arctic communities for which a subsistence lifestyle plays an important role. Finally, I will ask what the approach towards POPs can teach us about managing environmental risks and the application of the precautionary principle in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 141 | Page Poster presentations

Using annually‐resolved bivalve records and biogeochemical models to understand and predict climate impacts in coastal oceans

Sarah Holmes 1, Paul Halloran 1, Paul Butler 2, Chris Perry 1, Johan van der Molen 3

1University of Exeter, UK, 2Bangor University, UK, 3CEFAS, UK

It is more important than ever to study the oceans and especially the coastal seas, which are disproportionately productive and sustain over 90% of global fisheries. The economic and societal significance of these shallow oceans, as the interface through which society interacts with the marine environment makes them highly relevant to the decisions of policy‐makers and stakeholders. However, these decisions rely upon empirical datasets informed by consistent and extensive monitoring from experts in the field. Modelling the shelf seas with biogeochemical/ ecosystem models allows scientists to look at both past and future scenarios to estimate ecosystem response to change and models such as the European Regional Sea Ecosystem Model or ERSEM in particular must combine not only the complex hydrographical aspects of shallow oceans but also innumerable biological and chemical parameters. Huge efforts across the modelling community are invested into developing and ultimately increasing the reliability of these models, typically achieved by looking at relationships with observed data. However, observational datasets of the shelf seas are both spatially and temporally limited and of poor quality, hindering our understanding of benthic processes and so restricting model accuracy. It is for this reason that proxy data of the marine environment is so valuable. Of all marine proxies available, sclerochronology, the study of the growth bands on marine molluscs, is the only proxy proven to provide novel, high resolution, multi‐centennial, annually‐resolved, absolutely‐dated archives of past ocean environment, analogous to that provided by dendrochronology on land. For the first time, this PhD project will combine the proxy data of sclerochronology with modelled hindcast data from the ERSEM with the aim to better understand the North West European shelf sea environment and potentially improve predictions of future climate change in this region and beyond.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 142 | Page Poster presentations

SIOS. The hub for improved use, better coordination and open access to the observing systems in Svalbard.

Christiane Hübner 1, Kristoffer Grud 1, Øystein Godøy 2, Ole J. Lønne 1

1UNIS, Norway, 2Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Norway

The Arctic is a key region for monitoring and evaluation of climate, environments and ecosystems of global significance. Changes here take place faster and with wider consequences than what is observed in lower latitudes.

In and around Svalbard there are a number of observation systems and research activities that together produce information that brought together in a coherent way will facilitate our ability to synthesise knowledge and bring synergies far beyond the individual projects.

Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS) is about to establish and maintain a cooperating and transparent research infrastructure that will give better estimates of the future environmental and climate changes in the Arctic. This will enable us to increase our understanding of how climate change impact, present and future productivity, fate of production, seasonality and communities in the Svalbard area, in the Arctic and globally when combined with similar information from other areas.

There are at present 14 partners involved from Europe and Asia and many more associated. The essential objective is to establish better‐coordinated services for the international research community with respect to access, data and knowledge management, logistics and training.

During the ongoing interim project, the Knowledge Centre is established in Longyearbyen as a central hub for the SIOS consortium. The establishment of a legal entity, that will carry the international organisation forward, is scheduled to be established in 2016.

During 2017, pilot projects for infrastructure access, data access, sharing logistical services and training will be executed. The pilot projects are chosen based on potential to be pillars in the running phase structure of SIOS with a plan for a dynamic development of SIOS into the future.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 143 | Page Poster presentations

Diversity and distribution of complex polysaccharide degrading culturable bacteria within Kongsfjorden, Arctic

Anand Jain

National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, India

Cold adapted, complex polysaccharide degrading, marine bacteria have implications in biogeochemical processes and biotechnological applications. Bacteria capable of degrading complex polysaccharide substrate, mainly starch, have been isolated from various cold environments such as sea ice, glaciers, subglacial lakes, and marine sediments. However, diversity of polysaccharide degrading culturable bacteria in Kongsfjorden, Arctic, remains unexplored. In the present study a total of 215 cold adapted heterotrophic bacterial cultures isolated from six different locations within Kongsfjorden were tested for the production of cold active extracellular polysaccharide degrading enzymes including amylase, pectinase, alginase, xylanase, and CM‐cellulase at 4° C and 20°C incubation temperatures. 52% and 41% of the total bacterial isolates were tested positive for the extracellular enzyme activities at 4° C and 20°C, respectively. A large fraction of bacterial isolates (37% of the total positive isolates) showed multiple extracellular enzyme activities indicating their exceptional adaptation to flourish in such cold environment. The ability to produce multiple‐enzymes offers higher chances of adaptation and survival to the microorganisms. This ability is particularly useful in the rapidly changing marine environment in terms of the availability of substrates for bacterial metabolism. Alginase, pectinase and amylase activities were predominant among bacterial strains isolated from middle part of the fjord while xylanase and CM‐cellulase activities were recorded in isolates from inner part of the fjord. Predominance of xylanase and CM‐cellulase activities in isolates from near glacier location could be due to the presence of lignocellulose rich organic matter of terrigenous origin most likely contributed by glacial melting in summer. All the isolates tested positive for extracellular enzyme activities were affiliated to class Gammaproteobacteria. Previous studies have revealed link between carbohydrate degradation in the marine environment with the dominance of members of class Gammaproteobacteria. A total of four genera were identified with highest number of isolates belonging to genus Pseudomonas followed by Psychrobacter, Pseudoalteromonas and Shewanella.

In conclusion, prevalence of complex polysaccharide degrading enzymes among isolates indicates the availability of complex polysaccharide substrates in the Kongsfjorden resulting from the glacial melting and/or macroalgal load. In addition, high functional/phenotypic diversity in terms of extracellular enzyme activities within bacterial genera indicates their role in regulating carbon/carbohydrate turnover in the Kongsfjorden, especially by reducing the recalcitrance. Further, this ability of Kongsfjorden bacterial isolates could be harness for the production of cold active polysaccharide degrading enzymes for various industrial applications.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 144 | Page Poster presentations

Heat and nutrient fluxes in the Atlantic water boundary current

Markus Janout 1, Achim Randelhoff 2, Jens Hölemann 1, Anna Nikolopoulos 3, Ilka Peeken 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany, 2University of Tromsø, Norway, 3Aquabiota, Sweden

Turbulent microstructure and hydrographic parameters were sampled from drifting pack ice during eight 24‐36 hour‐long ice stations in June 2015 carried out during “TRANSSIZ” on RV Polarstern north of Svalbard. The measurements nicely outline the extent of the Atlantic water with temperatures >3°C over a ~70 km‐wide area above the continental slope, maximum temperatures of 2.5°C over the Yermak Plateau, and lower temperatures in the Sophia Deep. The core of the Atlantic water was found over the continental slope, with maximum velocities of >30 cm/s based on shipboard current measurements. These stations were dominated by warm and nutrient‐rich water extending up to 50 m below the surface with considerable vertical mixing in the upper 100 m, which enhanced the vertical supply of nutrients and heat to the surface. Biologically, these stations were in the early stages of phytoplankton blooms, while the ice stations above the shelf had already progressed to a mid‐bloom stage, and featured energetic episodic mixing modulated by tides that dominate the variability on the shelf. A thick ice cover over the Yermak Plateau and in the deep Basin during the time of sampling coincided with a pre‐bloom situation in 100 m‐deep mixed layers at near‐freezing temperatures. Strong dissipation was measured there following strong ice drift after a storm, which resulted in considerable nitrate and heat fluxes to the mixed layer. Considerable mixing in the interior waters over the Yermak Plateau drives relatively strong nitrate fluxes into the mixed layer, which helps precondition the upper ocean nutrient inventory to larger nutrient concentrations than elsewhere in the deep Arctic Ocean. The early and mid‐bloom stations often exhibited upper ocean stratification due to ice melt, which reduced nutrient fluxes to the mixed layer and likely lead to oligotrophic conditions later in the summer. Heat fluxes were maximum in the core of the Atlantic water boundary current over the sloping topography, which highlights this dynamic region as a place where Atlantic water heat and nutrients impact the sea ice and ecosystem.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 145 | Page Poster presentations

Compound‐specific isotopic analyses of amino acids in benthic species across a latitudinal gradient in Pacific Arctic Region

Monika Kędra 1, Mengjie Zhang 2, Lee W. Cooper 2, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier 2

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2Chesapeake Biological Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, USA

The nitrogen isotope composition of specific amino acids can provide a more robust indication of trophic level in marine ecosystems than bulk organic measurements, while the carbon isotope composition of specific amino acids has the potential to better identify the organic matter sources. We have applied this stable isotope approach to food webs in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas, which are among the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Increasing water temperatures and major reductions in seasonal sea ice cover could have critical consequences for benthic food webs, including trophic positions and organic carbon sources. These inferences are based upon observed shifts towards an earlier spring transition between ice‐covered and ice‐free conditions, with increases in primary production but reductions in sea ice algae production. Export fluxes of carbon to the sea floor are possibly changing, and thus benthic species abundance, biomass and distribution, which may further affect benthic foragers within the food web. Our main goal was to examine the potential implications of changes in ice cover for trophic position of selected species of benthic infauna and potential organic carbon sources along a south‐to‐north latitudinal gradient extending from the northern Bering Sea to Barrow Canyon in the Chukchi Sea. Benthic organisms were collected in 2015 at five biodiversity and biomass “hot spot” areas with a latitudinal gradient of seasonal sea ice cover duration, and differences in 13 physical forcing. Compound‐specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids (δ CAA) in two 13 dominant bivalves, Macoma calcarea and Ennucula tenuis, showed that δ CAA values in M. calcarea are more negative at a northeast Chukchi Sea biological hotspot where deposition of organic carbon deposition is high. We hypothesize that the difference in carbon isotopic composition between the two species at the same location is due to differences in feeding, and of the two species, M. calcarea takes more advantage of directly deposited organic 15 matter that is less modified by bacterial activity. The spatial variation of δ NAA of trophic amino acids and source amino acids of the two species suggest a shift in their trophic level positions. Other results show spatial variation of carbon isotopes in individual amino acids for studied species, suggesting a shift in the organic matter food sources latitudinally. The variation in isotopic values was related to environmental factors including sea ice extent. This study was conducted as a part of the international Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) Initiative (http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/dbo).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 146 | Page Poster presentations

Multi‐year variability of macrofaunal benthic diversity in the changing ecosystems of the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas

Monika Kędra 1, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier 2, Lee W. Cooper 2

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2Chesapeake Biological Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, USA

High biomass, abundance and diversity of benthic organisms are features of the seasonally sea ice‐covered Bering and Chukchi Sea shelves. These ecosystems have been exposed to increasing seawater temperatures and major reductions in seasonal sea ice cover over past decades, potentially affecting benthic populations, and their biodiversity and species composition. We describe here multi‐year changes of macrobenthic diversity in the high biomass/diversity “hot spot” areas of the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas with a goal of assessing biodiversity vulnerability to increasing temperature and sea ice reduction. Invertebrate samples were taken in four areas with high diversity and productivity (southwest of St. Lawrence Island, in the Chirikov Basin north of St. Lawrence Island, in the south eastern Chukchi Sea, and in Barrow Canyon) at the same stations in 2007 and 2008, as part of the International Polar Year Canada’s Three Oceans (C3O) project and subsequently in five consecutive years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as part of the international Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) program in coordination with C3O. In total, the sample suite includes almost 600 van Veen grab samples that were collected from depths ranging from 35 to 130 m. Benthic infaunal species richness, diversity, abundance and biomass were determined in relationship with physical and chemical data from the water column and sediments. Changes observed include: a decline and a switch in dominant bivalves species (Nuculana radiata and Ennucula tenuis), important prey for sea ducks, in the St. Lawrence Island area; a decline in tube dwelling amphipods (Ampelisca macrocephala and other Ampelisca species) while some tube dwelling polychaetes (Ampharete spp.) increased in abundance and biomass in the central Chirikov Basin, historically a foraging area of gray whales. There are also indications of a decline in biomass in the south eastern Chukchi Sea, which is an important foraging area for walruses, as well as an increase in species diversity in recent years. This study is a contribution to the international DBO (http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/dbo/index.html), and represents a continuation of benthic time series sampling maintained since the 1980s.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 147 | Page Poster presentations

Politics of Climate Change and Its influence on Cooperation and Conflict Dynamics in the Arctic Region

Rabia Kalfaoglu

Moskow State University, Norway

Climate change in the Arctic region has had a profound impact on critical marine and terrestrial ecosystems and nature‐based livelihoods. The impact of melting ice and snowcaps has led to a new focus on the region’s economic potential, especially in view of the prospect of faster shipping routes, and the estimated vast deposits of hydrocarbons and growing fish stocks. Local, regional and international cooperation has been deemed essential to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change in the Arctic, as well as to ensure sustainable economic development of the region. Concerns related to environmental, economic and human security have thus featured high on the agendas of key Arctic stakeholders. There is a potential for disagreement and rivalry connected to unresolved questions of jurisdiction and crossed interests over transport routes and resources. The rich fishing grounds are fairly well known, while there is more uncertainty about the location of oil, gas and minerals. Furthermore, there are debates about security alertness, patrolling, and formal authority in many of the contested areas. Cooperation in the Arctic Region firstly, the impact of climate change, and the damage and anxieties flowing from it, concerns all the Arctic stakeholders. The implications of thawing permafrost, changing weather and sea current patterns, and potential loss of species, for instance, extend also beyond the boundaries of the Arctic region itself. Notable unpredictability in the scientific projections of the large‐scale environmental changes afoot continues to characterise joint efforts in understanding, anticipating and managing the ongoing transformation. Second, the envisaged economic opportunities in the region are greatly affected by regional political developments. Political stability is crucial for the Arctic states’ attempts to create a favourable environment for investment and financial risk‐taking. Cooperation is also essential for the attempts to manage adequately the risks and safety concerns associated with increasing economic activity, that is, to strive for sustainable economic development in the Arctic. As a result, the impact of climate change and the new economic opportunities are of importance to the Arctic states and their interests.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 148 | Page Poster presentations

Community structure of macrobenthos along bathymetrical transects off Svalbard and Eastern Greenland ‐ A comparative study at the deep‐sea observatory HAUSGARTEN

Melissa Käß 1, Andrey Vedenin 2, Angelika Brandt 3, Thomas Soltwedel 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, 3University Hamburg, Germany

The Fram Strait is one of the most important gateways between the Arctic Ocean and its connected water bodies as it is the deepest passage and therefore provides exchanges of deep waters. The part of the eastern Fram Strait is significantly influenced by the northern‐ bound warm West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) whereas the western part is influenced by the cold and less saline East Greenland Current (EGC) flowing southerly direction. Sea ice from the Arctic Ocean is passing the Fram Strait on its southward flow. Sea ice loss is affecting the entire marine ecosystem as vertical energy fluxes are coupled even to the deep sea. The objective of this study is to investigate whether there are dissimilarities in deep‐sea benthic macrofaunal communities such as species composition and diversity in eastern and western parts of the Fram Strait due to different energy input to the benthic communities.

Sampling sites along the bathymetric transect of the LTER (Long‐Term Ecology Research) observatory HAUSGARTEN off western Svalbard and the macrofauna sampling methodology were chosen following previous studies, while the East Greenland slope has been sampled for the first time at this location. Samples were taken during RV Polarstern expedition PS99.2 in June/July 2016 using an UNSEL box corer with a sampling area of 0.25 m² at water depths of 1000 ‐ 5500 m (Vestnesa Ridge) and 1000 ‐ 2500 m (East Greenland slope). Samples were washed through a 500 µm mesh size sieve and fixed in ethanol 96 %. Macrobenthic organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomical level in the laboratory after the expedition.

Recent results suggest a trend that stations located on the East Greenland slope are lower in species richness (total number of species) but higher in diversity of taxa than stations on the Vestnesa Ridge. Polychaeta are the dominant taxa at both bathymetrical transects but in noticeably varying proportions. Oweniidae and Cirratulidae show among other families highest abundance at both transects.

The differences in macrofauna community structure in the western and eastern Fram Strait might be a result of differences in food availability. Sea ice coverage as well as regions of contrasting primary production could be crucial factors driving community patterns.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 149 | Page Poster presentations

Sea Ice thickness variability in the north‐western Barents Sea

Jennifer King 1, Sebastian Gerland 1, Christian Haas 2, Stefan Hendricks 3, Lars Kaleschke 4, Gunnar Spreen 5, Caixin Wang 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2York University, Toronto, Canada, 3Alfred Wegener Institut, Germany, 4University of Hamburg, Germany, 5University of Bremen, Germany

The Barents Sea is one of the fastest changing regions of the Arctic, and has experienced the strongest decline in winter time sea‐ice area in the Arctic, at ‐23 ± 4 % per decade since 1979. Sea‐ice thickness in the Barents Sea can vary greatly from year to year. We present winter (March) sonar and airborne electromagnetic ice thickness measurements from four years, 1995, 1996, 2003 and 2014 that demonstrate this variability; with mean thickness 2.8 m in 1995, 1.5 m in 1996, and 1.4 m in 2003 compared to 0.7 m in 2014. We show that ice thickness cannot be assumed to be linearly correlated with ice extent and with ice age. In a year with a large inflow of sea‐ice from the Arctic Basin, the Barents Sea ice cover is dominated by thick multi‐year ice, as was the case in 2003 and 1995. In a year with an ice cover that was mainly grown locally the ice is thin and mechanically unstable; as was the case in 2014. In 2003, the dominant ice class was more than 2 years old; and sea‐ice thickness varied regionally from 0.7 ‐ 2.1 m, with the thinner ice being either FYI, or MYI that had come into contact with warm Atlantic water. In 2014, the ice cover was predominantly locally grown ice less than 1 month old (regional means of 0.5 ‐ 0.9 m). These two situations can present very different conditions for shipping traffic; and have a different impact on heat transport from ocean to atmosphere.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 150 | Page Poster presentations

Sea ice algae as food source: High trophic dependency of important energy transmitters in the central Arctic Ocean

Doreen Kohlbach 1, Martin Graeve 1, Benjamin Lange 1, Fokje Schaafsma 2, Benoit Lebreton 3, Carmen David 1, Hauke Flores 1

1Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2Wageningen Marine Research, Netherlands, 3UMR Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (CNRS‐Université de La Rochelle), Institut du Littoral et de l’Environnement, France

Besides carbon produced by pelagic phytoplankton, polar ecosystems thrive significantly on carbon synthesized by sea ice‐associated microalgae during long periods of the year. Continued alterations of the sea ice system might not only have dramatic consequences for the sympagic (ice‐associated) ecosystem, but will also have a large impact on the pelagic food web due to the close connectivity between the sea ice and the pelagic system. Thus, it is crucial to identify to which extent ecologically important species in the Arctic Ocean trophically depend on ice algae‐produced carbon versus carbon produced by pelagic phytoplankton. We quantified the contribution of ice algae‐produced carbon to the carbon budget of abundant copepods, and sympagic and pelagic amphipods, which represent important energy transmitters in the Arctic Ocean. To evaluate the impact of changing Arctic sea ice habitats to higher trophic levels, we investigated carbon sources of polar cod. Sample collection was carried out during the RV ‘Polarstern’ expedition PS80 (August‐September 2012) within the Amundsen and Nansen Basins of the central Arctic Ocean north of 80°N. From the natural distribution of marker fatty acids and carbon stable isotope compositions, we estimated a high contribution of ice algal produced carbon to the carbon budget of sympagic amphipods, such as Apherusa glacialis, Eusirus holmii and Onisimus glacialis (up to 92 %). Rather pelagic species, such as Calanus glacialis and Themisto libellula, also showed a surprisingly high dependency on sea ice‐associated carbon sources with a proportional contribution of ice algae‐produced carbon up to 48 % of their carbon budget. The high impact of ice algae‐produced carbon to the carbon budget of polar cod Boreogadus saida (up to 65 %) implied that upper trophic levels are also vulnerable to alterations of the sympagic food web.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 151 | Page Poster presentations

Directions of psychological risk management of oil and gas workers at shift labour in the Arctic

Yana Korneeva, Natalia Simonova

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after MV Lomonosov, Russia

The study was sponsored by the Russian President's grant for state support of young Russian scientists ‐ PhD (MK‐7500.2016.6). Arctic regions are characterized by extreme climatic factors and conditions of life like (group isolation, remoteness from major industrial centres, high resource of economic activities and livelihoods, labour‐intensity). Shift method is practiced here as the most optimal way. Due with extreme activity support of shift workers in the Arctic is necessary to apply a risk‐based approach. It is based not only on the correction has caused adverse events, but also on the probability of their occurrence. The psychological risk is the probability of professional destruction and formation of unfavourable functional states of shift workers owing to prolonged negative social and industrial factors and having a deficit of personal and environmental recourses. The research purpose is to explore the possibilities of psychological risk management of oil and gas workers with shift work in the Arctic. We have developed the three main areas in the management of psychological risk for oil and gas workers: isolation, control and reduction. The risks isolation has the least developed technologies. This is due to the influence of extreme environmental factors, which fully cannot be excluded from the activity (e.g., harsh climate). In addition, even with the use of innovative personal protective equipment. The risks control firstly include the periodic assessment of the functional status of employees during the shift. The functional status of employees during the shift require correction. To do this, we need develop self‐regulation skills among employees. In addition, it already belongs to a group of technologies to reduce psychological risks. A large share of the risk management belongs to the reduction technology that consist in the training of personnel to various psychological competencies and skills.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 152 | Page Poster presentations

Condensate spills in affected waters

Igor Korolkov

Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Russia

The growth of interest in the production of hydrocarbons in the Arctic shelf conditions increases every year. Number of traffic through the Northern Sea Route is growing every year. With production growth, the risks and consequences of accidental condensate spill increase. For an efficient spill response technology in the Arctic, it needs to know: product physical & chemical properties; environment characteristics, which effect on the spill (ice, water and weather conditions, underwater currents, etc.); blowout potential volumes; physical processes of spill movement and weathering; efficient spill detection and response methods.

The objective of this research is literature review on the state of knowledge regarding the fate of gas condensates or very light hydrocarbons trapped under or in ice (seawater and fresh water), and the appropriate clean‐up response means.

The conducted bibliographical review includes the Russian and western technical and academic literature (reports, papers, monographs) related to the industry, patents & standards, and lessons learned from accidents (spills of condensates and very light hydrocarbons in ice‐infected water context, and associated ecological impacts).

In conclusion, current emergency spill response plans do not separate different oil products. Thus, these plans may be ineffective in case of hydrocarbon spills, which are lighter than oil. There is a lack of information on experiments related to gas condensate. Any experiments with condensate in ice at cold conditions were not found. In addition, modern detection and spill response technologies have not been tested with gas condensate.

For further development of the subject, it is necessary to carry out laboratory experiments with different condensate samples in ice pools. First, it should be studied the gas condensate behaviour in different situations: within, under, on and among the ice. Also, to create effective spill response plan it should be studied condensate weathering at cold temperatures (evaporation, emulsification, dispersion, etc.).

Eventually, the main experiment should constitute forward evidence about the readiness of the modern equipment for mechanical collection of gas condensate spill in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 153 | Page Poster presentations

Modelling impacts of declining sea ice on pan‐Arctic benthic diversity and ecosystem functioning

Casper Kraan, Dieter Piepenburg, Thomas Brey

Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Germany

Arctic oceans are undergoing major changes in many of its fundamental physical constituents, such as shifts from multi‐ to first‐year ice and alterations in the distribution of water masses. Such changes have profound impacts on the chemical and biological processes that are at the root of Arctic marine food webs, influencing their structure, function and biodiversity. Yet, Arctic research thus far strongly focused on “footprints” in terrestrial systems and threats to marine mammals. Noted responses to climate change are range shifts, changes in abundance, declines in growth and condition, as well as community and regime shifts. Such knowledge is virtually lacking from benthic systems in the Arctic Ocean, stressing the need for international cooperation we advocate here.

Our work aims to offer more insight in the distributions and abundance of macrobenthic species in Arctic seascapes, e.g. bivalves, polychaetes, and crustaceans that live in marine soft bottoms. Scaling‐up pan‐Arctic community data from more than 7000 locations, we will address a fundamental challenge in Arctic ecological research by employing quantitative models thus far not feasible, enabling assessing spatial diversity patterns and link community organisation and ecosystem functioning. To a certain extend this is complementary to planned initiatives that target the pelagic system, such as MOSAiC.

We will employ recent multispecies species distribution models, so‐called “Joint SDM” (JSDM), which permit quantitative spatial modelling of non‐independent co‐occurrence patterns cognisant of the role of environmental factors. Contrary to most SDM, this allows for species distributions and co‐occurrences to be organised by ecological mechanisms, such as competition, facilitation and dispersal as well as environmental parameters.

Another approach is built on using species’ traits. Assessing trait responses to environmental gradients requires the analysis of information contained by species occurrences as a function of environmental variables, species traits, and their interactions. We will employ 4th‐corner methods to realise this, facilitating an assessment which traits are particularly vulnerable to climate change in Arctic macrobenthic communities.

Finally, recent studies emphasise the role of indirect relationships and feedback loops in maintaining ecosystem resilience. To capture such complexity, we propose to employ structural equation modelling to define and test the architecture of ecosystem interaction networks in Arctic benthic ecosystems across space.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 154 | Page Poster presentations

Advection as important factor influencing pelagic ostracods distribution and diversity between the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean

Mateusz Krawczuk 1, Ksenia Kosobokova 2, Martin Angel 3, Katarzyna Błachowiak‐Samołyk 1

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Norway, 2P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, 3National Oceanography Centre, UK

Zooplankton species play an important role in biological cycling since they are not only consumers of primary and secondary productions but also the principle food source for higher trophic levels. They respond rapidly to changes in environmental conditions and so can be good indicators of even the subtlest changes in the hydrographic structure within the water column.

Although detritivores pelagic Ostracoda are globally an important component of open ocean ecosystems, they remain poorly known both taxonomically and ecologically, especially in the deep Arctic Ocean. Even if they can contribute 4–5% of total zooplankton abundances in the Nansen Basin and the Greenland Sea, the most of previously published accounts of planktonic ostracods in Arctic waters have been limited to short notes in papers concerning general descriptions of the zooplankton.

One of the most important factors affecting the distribution and mixing of ostracods between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic is advection. As the result of this process the large portion of Arctic zooplankton species are shared with North Atlantic. Despite ostracods are having considerable potential as indicators of various water masses, they are seldom determined into species level in the Arctic zooplankton studies, but their erroneous identification can lead to incorrect conclusions about ecology of the zooplankton in general.

This study is the first attempt to revise the significant historical German study dealing with variability in the distribution and composition structure of ostracods in the Greenland Sea. The size data provided in this historical study indicates that the majority of analysed ostracods were Boroecia maxima, although they all were identified as B. borealis. This is a significant distinction because B. maxima is a high Arctic species whereas B. borealis is endemic to the boreal Atlantic. The lack of distinction between these two important contributors of Arctic mesozooplankton has caused a lot of confusion, which in retrospect is difficult to comprehend. We have at our disposal not only the ostracods from these historical expeditions but also a comprehensive dataset from deep Arctic Ocean with which we aim to correct the Greenland Sea data and such provide a full inventory of biodiversity and distribution of ostracods in the deep high Arctic waters. Since the Greenland Sea is connected with the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait, which is the only deep entrance to the high Arctic, this research will be useful evaluation regarding dispersion of planktonic species in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 155 | Page Poster presentations

Seasonal development of planktonic protist communities of Adventfjorden waters (West Spitsbergen) in terms of the environmental conditions

Anna Kubiszyn 1, Józef Wiktor 1, Józef Wiktor Jr. 1, Svein Kristiansen 2, Tove Gabrielsen 3

1Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot, Poland, Poland, 2The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 3University Centre in Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

We investigated the size and trophic structure of the annual planktonic protist community structure in the ice‐free Adventfjorden in relation to environmental factors. Our high‐ resolution (weekly to monthly) study was conducted in a period of high inter‐annual variability in Atlantic water advection to the fjord (January 2012 ‐ October 2013).

A high frequency of data collection allowed us to obtain a full picture of the protist biodiversity of Adventfjorden. For the 239 samples collected, 204 taxa were detected, among which the most important groups in terms of species richness were Bacillariophyceae, Ciliophora and Dinophyceae.

Additionally, we observed a distinct seasonality of the protist communities: winter community (mid‐November ‐ March), early spring community (March – mid‐April), spring community (last half of April ‐ the end of May), late spring community (late May ‐ mid‐June) and summer‐autumn community (mid‐June ‐ mid‐November).

The winter community was characterized by low protist richness and extremely low protist abundance in the homogenous water column. Representatives of Gymnodinium (Dinophyceae) and other nanoflagellates seemed to be a typical component of the community during the Polar Night. In early spring, the structure of the still low abundant community shifted towards a domination of the microplanktonic Bacillariophyceae. In both years, the spring bloom, manifested by a sudden increase in the total protist abundance, took place in the second half of April, i.e., about a month earlier compared to the ice‐ covered West Spitsbergen fjords. The presented research has revealed clear inter‐annual differences in the qualitative and quantitative compositions of the spring community, most likely the response to various hydrographical conditions. Phaeocystis pouchetii dominated the spring bloom in 2012 when Atlantic water prevailed, whereas Bacillariophyceae (mainly Fragilariopsis, Thalassiosira) dominated in 2013 when Arctic water masses prevailed. A shift in the communities from the spring to late‐spring state and then to the summer‐autumn state was manifested in the reconstruction of the qualitative structure as well as in a decline of the overall protist abundance. In 2012, the late‐spring community was characterized by the exclusive domination of P. pouchetii, whereas in 2013 there was a high proportion of Bacillariophyceae. In both years, the summer‐autumn community was represented mainly by flagellates and Ciliophora, commonly observed in the Arctic waters during summer. Along with the end of the growing season and the gradual weakening of the light conditions, the qualitative and quantitative structures of the protist community have returned to the previously observed winter state. This study was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland within the Let's Sea Project (2015/17/N/NZ8/01642).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 156 | Page Poster presentations

Topical problems of Arctic indigenous peoples

Anna Kuznetsova

Institute of Language, Literature and History of Komi Science Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia, Syktyvkar) / University of Tartu (Estonia, Tartu), Russia

Nowadays Arctic is a system developing rapidly due to globalization, climate change and growing interest of states. These factors affect the Arctic population. We observe the difficult situation around indigenous peoples: despite various programs aimed at developing of indigenous population, loss of small languages, cultures and traditional lifestyle, deteriorating socio‐economic situation, negative self‐identity take place.

Ecological problem is one of the most urgent for indigenous population; nature is their basis of life. In Russia, uncontrolled pollution of the environment has started in 1930s with industrial development of the north where indigenous peoples live. Developing mineral deposits in indigenous areas leaves behind the pollution and oil spills. This led to the crisis of indigenous peoples, deformation of their socio‐economic development.

The next is a problem of the right to the land, autonomy and self‐government. The case of Sami is the brightest example. Historically Sami land was divided between four countries. The state borders are strict while Sami territorial units are flexible: Sami need to move from one area to another because of traditional lifestyle but governments try to limit areas for reindeer grazing.

The following issue is socio‐economic development. Many indigenous people live in outlying regions, usually production is not being developed there, and agriculture is not popular because of cold climate. Many people suffer from unemployment; alcoholism is a problem for some of them. The authorities create mechanisms for improving the situation (financial aid, subsidies for small business, supporting teachers working in villages) but these measures are not enough.

In addition, the last matter is a problem of preservation of languages, cultures, national identity and education provided on native languages. The most significant decline in the proportion of Russian Finno‐Ugric peoples was in 1930s due to massive inflow of labour force for industry development and spread of inter‐ethnic marriages. There is a process of decline of education on national languages. For instance, there are 20 indigenous languages spoken in Alaska and only two of them are taught in schools. An example of Syktyvkar State University (Russia) shows that the number of places on specialty National Philology – Komi Language and Literature is declining (36 students were admitted in 1990 and 8 students in 2013).

It is important to solve the problems arising among indigenous peoples. These issues can cause irreversible consequences leading to deterioration of the position of indigenous peoples, loss of national languages and cultures and even extinction of smaller nations.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 157 | Page Poster presentations

Mesozooplankton transport with the West Spitsbergen Current to the Arctic Ocean

Slawomir Kwasniewski 1, Marta Gluchowska 1, Anna Olszewska 1, Mateusz Ormanczyk 1, Waldemar Walczowski 1, Jacob Carstensen 2

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2Aarhus University, Denmark

The Arctic Ocean undergoes the most rapid and pronounced modifications of all oceans in response to global climate change. One of the main factors inducing these modifications is advection of waters of Atlantic origin, transported as the West Spitsbergen Current and entering via the eastern Fram Strait. In addition to heat and salt, the waters also mediate a diverse and rich Atlantic biota, including protoplankton, zooplankton and fish. Zooplankton are key components of marine ecosystems linking primary producers with higher trophic levels such as fish; thus, they are important for food web functioning and the biological carbon pump, including regulatory effects on climate. It is expected that advection of warm waters from the North Atlantic will precipitate changes in Arctic environmental as well as biological conditions through enhanced transport of Atlantic biota. Therefore, in order to predict the effects of climate change on biological diversity and ecosystem functioning in the Arctic Ocean, it is necessary to understand the present day pattern of the zooplankton transport with Atlantic waters.

Data on zooplankton distribution and abundance in the epipelagic zone of the West Spitsbergen Current, collected in summers of 2001‐2012 and in 2014, combined with complementary hydrographic data, were used to study selected characteristics of the zooplankton communities, transported with the complex Atlantic waters flow to the Arctic Ocean. The study focused at questions such as: What are the key mesozooplankton species contributing to the transport of biota and biological carbon to the Arctic Ocean with the West Spitsbergen Current, and: Are there any changes in space or over time in this transport, in terms of community composition, standing stock, or demography of the predominant species? The preliminary results indicate that the mesozooplankton in the WSC in summer is dominated by Calanus finmarchicus, contributing typically 40‐60% of the total carbon biomass, mostly as females and stage V. Numerically, however, the main community component is Oithona similis. Overall, total mesozooplankton biomass has increased slightly over time, whereas the proportion of C. finmarchicus has increased considerably. The stage distribution of C. finmarchicus appeared highly variable among years, suggesting that this species could have multi‐generation cycles or that its ascendance occurs over a broader seasonal window.

Our study will contribute to foreseeing impacts of the Atlantic water biota on the pelagic and benthic ecosystems of Arctic Ocean in the era of climate warming, and improve current descriptions of plankton components in ecosystem models.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 158 | Page Poster presentations

Assessment of Atmospheric Circulation Regimes in the Atlantic‐Eurasian and Arctic Regions Using Climate Indices

Mikhail Latonin, Oleg Pokrovsky

Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Russia

In the first part of this research an overview of the two key climate indices is provided that significantly characterize weather in the Atlantic‐Eurasian region. Namely, the North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation indices were considered.

The second part is devoted to the polar air outbreaks from the Arctic that can be categorically considered as extreme weather events because monthly temperature anomalies both in the Arctic and middle latitudes may exceed 20 degrees. It was found out that both the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Arctic Oscillation indices are not sufficiently sensitive to the two completely different types of polar air outbreaks in terms of distinguishing them. The physical origins of polar air outbreaks were highlighted and the classification of them was carried out. Based on this classification a conclusion about the existence of the North Siberian anomaly was made. In addition, according to many features, this anomaly can be treated as the one more action centre of the atmosphere. This finding has allowed us to introduce a new climate index that was called as the Atlantic Arctic Oscillation index. It is related to the normalized difference of sea level pressure anomalies between Reykjavik (Iceland) and Ostrov Dikson (Russia) stations. This index permits us to identify the two types of polar air outbreaks with the higher level of recognition probability.

An interrelation between the new climate index and temperatures in the investigated (lat‐ lon) regions was analysed. Summer season in the middle latitudes is becoming colder while winter season in the Arctic is becoming warmer, and the Atlantic Arctic Oscillation index shows it.

One of the most important reasons of Arctic sea ice melting is related to the domination for the past 20 years of the second type of polar air outbreaks that cause high positive air temperature anomalies in the eastern sector of the Arctic. In contrast, during 1960s the first type of arctic air outbreaks prevailed.

This research has shown that statistical analysis in combination with physical reasoning can reveal many important linkages and provide some advantages. It gives us a good starting point for the development of an alternative approach in the seasonal weather forecasting.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 159 | Page Poster presentations

Salinity of the Arctic layer controls upward heat flux from deep Atlantic Water

Sigrid Lind 1, Randi B. Ingvaldsen 1, Tore Furevik 2

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2University of Bergen, Norway

In large parts of the Arctic Ocean, the upper ocean with its sea ice cover is protected from the heat of the Atlantic Water by an intermediate layer of relatively fresh water, frequently called the cold halocline layer or Arctic layer (in the Barents Sea). Heat flux from the Atlantic Water is of major concern regarding the sea ice loss during the last decades.

Using an extensive set of observations from the northern Barents Sea during1970–2011, we show that the salinity of the Arctic layer largely controls the heat flux variations on interannual scale. The hypothesized mechanism is that the salinity of the Arctic layer largely determines the bulk stratification in the water column, and thus sets an important precondition for turbulent mixing with the Atlantic Water. The mechanism is part of a feedback loop where mixing with the more saline Atlantic Water increases the Arctic layer salinity and weakens the stratification, making the water column even more prone to turbulent mixing. This increases the heat and salt fluxes from the Atlantic Water.

The results point to the governing mechanisms in the interior Arctic Ocean. It seems crucial to maintain a low salinity in the intermediate layer in order to keep the heat fluxes from the Atlantic Water at a minimum. Our further work indicates that variability in salinity of the intermediate layer is partly driven by salinity variations in the surface layer, which again are closely linked to sea ice melt. Earlier work has shown that import of sea ice from the Arctic Ocean is an important freshwater source for the Barents Sea. In this manner, the Arctic Ocean sea ice production may be crucial for maintaining the Arctic layer in the Barents Sea. Furthermore, the Arctic layer in the Barents Sea has been shown to be a probable source for Cold Halocline Water in the interior Arctic Ocean, thus this may all be part of a larger feedback loop in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 160 | Page Poster presentations

Comparative benthic experiments in polar seas ‐ What can we learn from it?

Heike Link 1, Joshua Kiesel 2, Derya M. Seifert 2

1University of Rostock, Germany, 2Kiel University, Germany

Arctic marine research throughout the last decades has significantly improved our knowledge about the Arctic environment, including to some extent the seafloor. Such knowledge is crucial for our ability to detect shifts in the ecosystems that are expected to occur with ongoing climate change. To predict changes in the future using models, we moreover need to identify links between parameters in the ecosystems, such as food supply to the benthos, composition of benthic communities and effected functions.

Comparative experiments can be used to distinguish different causes for effects, particularly in regions differing in environmental conditions such as sea‐ice cover. Here we show results from benthic chamber incubation experiments, in which the same method was applied in (i) Arctic shelf and deep seas and (ii) Arctic and Antarctic shelf seas. Our results show that the comparative approach can point to challenging global assumptions such as the largely diffusion‐driven oxygen consumption rates in the deep sea and the biodiversity‐driven rates of ecosystem functions (here: remineralisation rates). We argue that experiments manipulating the biological system (e.g. species) or environment in contrasting regions such the Arctic and Southern Ocean can elucidate physico‐ and biochemical mechanisms crucial for a better prediction of processes in large‐scale as well as small‐scale polar ecosystems.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 161 | Page Poster presentations

Long‐Term dynamics of radioactive contamination of the Barents‐Kara Seas region

Gennady Matishov 1, Irina Usyagina 2, Nadezhda Kasatkina 2

1Murmansk Marine Biological Institute and Southern Scientific Centre RAS, Russia, 2Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Russia

The research interest in marine radioactivity decreased significantly in the first decade of the 21st century due to the general decrease of radiation background level after the cease of large‐scale nuclear tests. Discovery of traces of Fukushima NPP discharges in the high‐ latitude Arctic areas indicated the importance of performing regular surveys of artificial radionuclides’ background values in the environment.

The goal of the present study is to estimate the current radioactive pollution and determine the trends of long‐term variability in the radioactive background in the basins of the Barents and Kara Seas.

Despite numerous atmospheric and underwater nuclear tests, the concentrations of artificial radionuclides in the environments of the Barents and Kara Seas in the 1960–1970s were not high. The 137Cs concentration in the Western Barents Sea close to the Norwegian Sea areas increased to 90 Bq/m3 in the early 1980s. The reason for such a high level of radioactive contamination was a transboundary transfer of radioactive wastes discharged into the Irish Sea from the Sellafield site. By the end of the 1990s, the 137Cs level in the surface waters decreased to 2–15 Bq/m3 over the entire Barents Sea. In 2010–2015, the 137Cs activity in the surface layer of the Barents Sea was 0.4–3.9 Bq/m3.

In the early 1980s, the values of 137Cs accumulated in the bottom sediments of the Barents Sea was 10–30 Bq/kg, and in the 1990s – 0.2–44 Bq/kg. The maximum 137Cs accumulation was registered in clay sediments of the South Novaya Zemlya trough. Specific activity of 137Cs in aleurites and fine‐grained sands in shallow‐water varies from 0.2 to 4.0 Bq/kg. Radioactive contamination of bottom sediments in some bays and fjords of the coast is higher than in open parts of the Barents Sea. In 2010‐2015 aleuritic‐silty‐sandy sediments accumulated 0.8–2.9 Bq/kg of 137Cs. In troughs, aleurites and argillic silts are with slightly higher 137Cs level (up to 6.7 Bq/kg).

Comparative analysis of water and bottom sediments contamination on the shelf and in the coastal zone has indicated that due to the natural oceanological processes and isotope decay, the concentration of artificial radionuclides has multiply decreased over 60 years in comparison to the period of uncontrolled emission of the 1960s. At present, the influence of contamination sources, which were active in the past, has become almost indistinguishable from the background.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 162 | Page Poster presentations

Will climate warming impact the size structure of Arctic benthic communities? ‐ Benthic biomass size spectra along latitudinal gradient (60 ‐ 80°N)

Mikołaj Mazurkiewicz 1, Barbara Górska 1, Paul Renaud 2, Jan Marcin Węsławski 1, Maria Włodarska‐Kowalczuk 1

1Institue of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 2Akvaplan‐niva, Norway

Body size is a fundamental biological unit that is closely coupled to key ecological properties and processes. Decline in organisms’ body‐size has been recently predicted to be “the third universal response to global warming” (alongside changes in phenology and distribution of species) in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. The patterns of spatial variability and drivers of size structures at the community level are still rarely studied, particularly for benthic communities. Here we present the first study of benthic biomass size spectra along the latitudinal/thermal regimes gradient spanning the continental Norway and Arctic fjords. The “space for time analogue’ approach was applied to determine possible future effects of global warming on Arctic benthic ecosystems in terms of structure (size spectra) and function (secondary production). The study was conducted in six fiords representing a wide geographical (60 to 80°N) and temperature regimes range (‐1 to 8°C bottom water temperature). At each location, we collected meiobenthic and macrobenthic samples, acquired hydrographic settings and collected sediments for geochemical analyses. Organisms were identified and measured using microscope‐based Image Analyses System to assess biovolume and individual biomass needed to construct biomass size spectra. Secondary production was estimated with use of Artificial Neural Network modelling. Despite prominent differences in total biomass and abundance among the fjords, the shape of size spectra was very conservative across all localities, with a pronounced gap at the same size class (16 µg DM) and stable location of meiofaunal and macrofaunal peaks. A decline in presence of the highest size classes was observed in Arctic localities. Fresh organic matter availability (as indicated by chlorophyll a content in sediments) defined the levels of the total benthic biomass and secondary production, but had no impact on the partitioning of the standing stocks among direct size classes. We conclude that climate warming and related enhancement of primary production may alter the composition and functioning of benthic communities, but most probably will not alter their size structure.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 163 | Page Poster presentations

Geoecological investigations of lake sediments in ice‐covered conditions

Aleksandr Medvedev, Zahar Slukovsy

Institute of Geology KRC RAS, Russia

An investigation of lake sediments is very important part of a geoecological research. Sediments keep information about past events as well as allow people getting aware about the present situation. Through its geochemistry, we are able to reconstruct climatic changes, define a quality of sapropel, and carry out an assessment of environmental pollution.

Arctic and subarctic regions have unique nature that needs to be protected from negative anthropogenic influence. The most essential way of avoiding ecological disasters in future is regular monitoring of lake and marine ecosystems. Whereas water bodies located in North area are usually covered with ice throughout a long period, fieldwork in these conditions has some features and requires special equipment. This writing is focused on representing methods and results of a geochemical investigation of sediment cores retrieved from two Karelian lakes in early spring season. There content of heavy metals were determined and how they vary through the sediment layers.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 164 | Page Poster presentations

Snow conditions over the Arctic Ocean, north of Svalbard, during the Norwegian Young Sea ICE (N‐ICE2015) expedition

Ioanna Merkouriadi 1, Jean Charles Gallet 1, Glen Liston 2, Chris Polashenski 3, Sebastian Gerland 1

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Colorado State University, USA, 3U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, USA

Spatial and temporal evolution of snow physical properties is examined in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean. This study was part of the Norwegian Young Sea Ice Cruise (N‐ICE2015) project, which primarily aimed to understand the effects of the thin, first year Arctic ice regime on energy flux, ice dynamics and the ice associated ecosystem. Snow is a crucial component of the Arctic sea ice system, controlling heat conduction and radiative fluxes across the ocean, ice and atmosphere interfaces. During the N‐ICE2015 expedition (15th January – 22nd June 2015), RV Lance was tethered several times in the ice and drifted passively. Information on the evolution of snow depth, density, thermal conductivity and stratigraphy, is crucial for the development of detailed snow numerical models and for the retrieval of remote sensing algorithms. This study combines records from a variable ice field, consisting of both first year (FYI) and multi‐year ice (SYI). Our observations are compared with data from the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic (SHEBA) campaign, which took place in the Beaufort Sea, 1997‐1998. Prior to the melting season, three types of snow were present: faceted grains (47%), depth hoar (28%) and wind slab (13%), indicating that snow stratigraphy in N‐ICE2015 was much different compared to what was observed in SHEBA. The bulk snow density in winter was on average 349 kg m‐3, very similar to the values observed in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. The average snow depth was measured at 41 cm in January and 56 cm in February, greater than climatological studies predicted for the area. Snow load over SYI was significantly larger compared to the load over FYI.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 165 | Page Poster presentations

Molecular indicators of biogeochemical processes in modern sediments of Eastern Arctic seas

Vera Petrova 1, Inna Morgunova 2, Ivan Litvinenko 2, Anna Kursheva 1

1FSBI "VNIIOkeangeologia", Russia, 2FSBI, Russia

Organic geochemical studies of the surface Late Quaternary sediments of the Laptev Sea and adjacent areas of the Arctic Ocean were performed. The study of main organic geochemical characteristics and lateral distribution of hydrocarbon molecular markers revealed the genesis and maturity stage of organic matter (OM).

Late Quaternary sediments for the study were sampled during research cruises of VNIIO (R/V “Akademik Fedorov” in 2005, N/I “Rossiya” in 2007) along the meridional transect starting off the northern Laptev Sea shelf through the Amundsen Basin to the central part of the Arctic Ocean. Surface sediments were collected from gravity cores with plastic inserts into sterile boxes and kept at ‐18 °C. Analysis included determination of TOC and CaCO3, group and molecular composition of dispersed OM soluble part using preparative liquid chromatography and GC‐MS analysis with the Agilent Technologies 6850/5973 GC system.

The study of OM group composition showed the clear saturated over aromatic compounds predominance, which is typical of modern sediments containing immature OM. The uniform composition of hydrocarbons in sediments from estuarine‐deltaic and coastal‐shelf facial zones attests to the common genesis of the dispersed OM. The comparison of n‐alkanes distribution in the shelf sediments and incorporated layers of degraded tundra macrophytes confirms the significant terrigenous influence on the dispersed OM composition (С17‐19/С27‐31 ca. 0.3, OEP27,29 ca. 3). Aquatic input is evidenced only in sediments from continental slope and Great Siberian Polynya zone located to the north‐northwest of the New Siberian Islands.

Composition of cyclic compounds agrees with the terrigenous origin and low level of OM transformation. Thus, estuarine sediments are enriched with products of early diagenetic transformation – biogenic sterols, hopenes and biohopanes. In the pelagic sediments, they are substituted by more persistent forms – steranes and geohopanes.

Molecular markers of terrigenous origin such as perylene, alkylated homologues of chrysene, phenanthrene and its alkylated homologues dominate in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons composition. The influence of river run‐off is traced abroad the continental shelf by both high plants molecular markers and pyrogenic component – fluoranthene, associated with anthropogenic sources of OM.

Received results demonstrate the leading part of terrigenous matter in formation of sedimentary cover of estuarine‐deltaic and coastal‐shelf facial zones of the Laptev Sea and adjacent areas of the Arctic Ocean up to the North Pole. Furthermore, they can be used as a basis for the geochemical survey during oil and gas deposits search and geoecological monitoring in the region.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 166 | Page Poster presentations

Arctic marine bacterial communities show fast response to increased input of terrigenous organic matter

Oliver Müller 1, Maria Lund Paulsen 1, Lena Seuthe 2, Gunnar Bratbak 1, Aud Larsen 1, Lise Øvreås 1

1University of Bergen, Norway, 2UiT – The arctic University of Tromsø, Norway

Climatic changes have severe impact in the Arctic where permafrost is melting, glaciers are receding and sea ice is disappearing. This results in an increased wash out of vast amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into the Arctic Ocean. Only few studies have addressed the impact of terrigenous DOM (tDOM) on the structure and dynamics of marine microbial communities in marine systems influenced by run‐off. In this study, we aim to highlight the spatio‐temporal effects of tDOM addition on the activity and structure of marine and fjord prokaryotic communities in the Arctic. A specific focus is placed on defining a time line of changes of the active community as well as the degradation potential of terrigenous DOM (tDOM) by marine Arctic bacteria. tDOM isolated from Svalbard permafrost soil, was added to 16 different bacterial communities from contrasting water masses Northwest of Svalbard (August and November 2014) and to bacterial communities from an Arctic fjord system (Kongsfjord, Ny Ålesund, July 2015). The samples were incubated for up to 9 days and were stopped in regular intervals to monitor short term responses of the bacterial community.

Communities from all water masses showed immediate but different responses in diversity and activity upon tDOM addition. Increased bacterial production and net‐growth was observed together with increased abundance of the genera Oleispira and Marinomonas within the class Gammaproteobacteria in deep Atlantic intermediate water and the genus Glaciecola in fjord samples. Relative abundance of Glaciecola increased more than 100‐fold within 48h after tDOM additions. However, bacterial community compositions in Atlantic and Arctic surface water did not show any measurable response to the tDOM addition.

Our results indicate that tDOM can be quickly utilized by some Arctic marine bacterial communities and thereby alter both their net‐growth and composition within 24 hours. However, further studies are needed to unravel the factors controlling the degradation potential of tDOM by different bacterial communities, which ultimately determine the fate of terrigenous carbon washed out into marine ecosystems and the possible impact on the Arctic microbial food web.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 167 | Page Poster presentations

Storm Ice Oil Wind Wave Watch System (SIOWS): Web GIS application for monitoring the Arctic

Alexander Myasoedov, Sergey Azarov, Ekaterina Balashova, Iurii Blokhin, Alexander Grenishin, Elizaveta Zabolotskikh, Evgenia Zubkova, Vladimir Kudryavtsev, Anna Monzikova

SOLab RSHU, Russia

Working with satellite data, has long been an issue for users that has often prevented from a wider use of these data because of Volume, Access, Format and Data Combination.

The purpose of the Storm Ice Oil Wind Wave Watch System (SIOWS) developed at Satellite Oceanography Laboratory (SOLab) is to solve the main issues encountered with satellite data and to provide users with a fast and flexible tool to select and extract data within massive archives that match exactly its needs or interest improving the efficiency of the monitoring system of geophysical conditions in the Arctic.

SIOWS ‐ is a Web GIS, designed to display various satellite, model and in situ data, it uses developed at SOLab storing, processing and visualization technologies for operational and archived data. It allows synergistic analysis of both historical data and monitoring of the current state and dynamics of the "ocean‐atmosphere‐cryosphere" system in the Arctic region, as well as Arctic system forecasting on the basis of thermodynamic models with satellite data assimilation.

The following features will be implemented in the advanced SIOWS: Arctic portal (siows.solab.rshu.ru):

 implementation of the improved/new geophysical products developed in the Satellite Oceanography Laboratory,  implementation of improved/new technologies of storage, processing and visualization of operational and archive data, including data overlay, their projection, visualization, animation and joint processing directly through a Web GIS SIOWS,  implementation of the synergistic analysis of historical data,  operational monitoring of the current state and dynamics of the system "ocean‐ atmosphere‐cryosphere" in the Arctic region,  forecast, based on the model of atmosphere dynamics WRF with assimilation of new satellite products ‐ moisture content of the atmosphere, the sea‐level pressure, wind, and sea surface temperature, and on the modifying resistance law, taking into account the features of the heat and momentum exchange on the border of the ocean‐atmosphere system during high winds .  prediction of anomalously high waves generation by moving atmospheric formation and their distribution in "real time" using the combination of the wind wave generation model and the WRF model  identification of polar cyclones, vortex, oil spills, internal waves and swell waves  use of created polar cyclones monitoring complex system for analysis of atmospheric, oceanic and ice conditions that determine origin and development of

Arctic Frontiers 2017 168 | Page Poster presentations

polar cyclones, and identifying patterns in their spatial distribution, intensity and frequency.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 169 | Page Poster presentations

In situ validation of Arctic sea ice classification based on remote sensing

Jean Negrel 1, Sebastian Gerland 1, Anthony Paul Doulgeris 2, Anja Rösel 1, Johannes Johannes 2, Malin Johansson 2

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2University of Tromsø, Norway

The use of satellite remote sensing techniques for the observation and monitoring of the polar regions has increased in recent years due to the ability to cover larger areas than can be covered by ground measurements. However, in situ measurements remain mandatory for the validation of such data. In 2016, two Arctic fieldwork campaigns have been conducted by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI). In April, ground measurements in Kongsfjorden were carried out together with satellite data acquisitions to improve identification of young sea ice types in satellite data. During the September 2016 Fram Strait cruise, in‐situ measurements were collected from both fast and drifting sea ice. Several satellite acquisitions were also realised during the campaign. This study was conducted as part of NPI’s long‐term monitoring of Svalbard fast ice and the Fram Strait Arctic Ocean Outflow Observatory, in association with the Center for Integrated Remote Sensing and Forecasting for Arctic operations (CIRFA).

Both campaigns aim to better quantify the contribution of different ice types to the information contained within the radar acquisitions; and thus identify and classify them more accurately.

Thin ice types are generally more difficult to investigate in situ than thicker ice, because ice of only a few centimetres thickness does not allow scientists to stand and work on it. Identifying thin ice on radar scenes will make it easier to study and monitor.

During the Kongsfjorden campaign, Radarsat‐2 scenes were obtained, coincident in space and time with the in situ measurements. During the Fram Strait expedition, the in situ measurements overlapped Radarsat‐2 and TanDEM‐X acquisitions over fast ice close to Greenland coast.

The field teams used a variety of methods, including ice thickness transects (drilling and EM‐ 31), ice salinity measurements, coastal radar surveys, helicopter‐based measurements (EM‐ Bird) and aerial photography, to identify the different ice types, their location and evolution in time . Sampling of the thinnest ice types was managed from a small boat. In addition, iceberg positions were recorded with GPS and ship radar, and photographed to enable us to quantify their contributions to the radar response.

Ice ranging from 0.02 to more than 3 m thickness was sampled with twenty‐six ice stations and six helicopter flights. The ice had no or only a thin snow layer. The GPS positions, tracks and ice characteristics are then compared to the satellite scenes, and the radar responses of the different sea ice types in the quad‐pol scenes are identified.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 170 | Page Poster presentations

Calanus glacialis on the Kara Sea shelf at the end of the productive season: spatio‐temporal distribution, physiological condition and perspectives to survive

Anastasia Nikishina, Elena Arashkevich, Alexander Drits, Anna Pasternak, Konstantin Solovyev

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russia

The Kara Sea shelf ecosystem is known to be poor productive in comparison with other Arctic shelf areas such as Barents Sea and Chukchi Sea. The most common reason for that is the short vegetative season due to the severe winter conditions and late ice melting. Another reason is the strong influence of Siberian rivers discharge that forms the surface brackish water layer with salinity up to 8 ppt. It makes the survival of the most marine plankton species impossible at the upper layers. Calanus glacialis, one of the most abundant and crucial for the Arctic ecosystem species, is dominating the zooplankton biomass at this region. It is well documented that it dwells in the deeper water layers avoiding the upper brackish layers, but little is known about the ecological aspects of its life in this region. Based on the 6 years of field observations our study is aimed to fill the gaps in the understanding of Calanus glacialis ecology on the Kara Sea shelf.

The material for the study was collected during the six expeditions of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology to the Kara Sea in 2007, 2011, 2013‐2016. The observations were performed in different years and covers the period from August to October. Data on copepod distribution, diel migration and feeding activity were used for analysing the population characteristics of the Calanus glacialis. Adults and CV copepodites were less abundant at the shelf then CII‐CIV during all of the observations. Therefore, our scientific interest was if these young copepodites could accumulate enough lipid storage for switching to diapause under such a poor food supply conditions. The copepod daily rations on phytoplankton, obtained by gut fluorescence method, were generally much lower than literature data on Calanus glacialis rations in other regions. That is in good coincidence with the low primary production and chlorophyll concentration that are typical for the studied area and season. Although at some single stations we observed the spots of higher chlorophyll concentrations and increased feeding activity of copepods. We consider these spots as the result of hydrological processes that take place at the shallow shelf areas. Our results suggest that the heterogeneity of environmental conditions on the shelf produced by hydrological processes is the crucial factor for the growth and mortality of C. glacialis population at this area at the end of the productive season.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 171 | Page Poster presentations

The origin and fate of Arctic Particular Organic Matter across depth and sea ice gradients

Barbara Oleszczuk, Aleksandra Winogradow, Monika Kędra

Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Climate change and sea ice retreat influence the structure and functioning of Arctic marine ecosystems including benthic communities. Decreasing sea ice cover will likely cause changes in bloom timing, in quantity and quality of primary production, and thus quantity and quality of organic matter reaching seafloor communities. Changes in organic matter export fluxes are predicted to have consequences for the carbon cycling in the water column, and, further, for benthic communities, especially in the deep‐sea.

The main aim of this study was to analyse Particulate Organic Matter (POM) origin and fate in relation to depth and sea ice type. POM samples were collected north off Svalbard during the German R/V Polarstern cruise PS92 “TRANSSIZ”, in May and June 2015, and R/V Helmer Hanssen cruise “ARCEx” to Svalbard fjords and Barents Sea, in May 2016. Stations were located along the sea ice gradient – from sea ice free to first year sea ice covered stations, and depth gradient ‐ from shelf stations up to 2200m depth. POM was sampled from five sediment traps set for 24 hours from 20 to 200m depths at twelve stations. Additionally, POM samples were taken from chlorophyll a maximum depth and from above the bottom. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and stable carbon isotope signatures (δ13C) were determined and in total 234 POM samples were analysed. The amount of TOC decreased with depth at all stations, and POM concentrations were increasing along with the bloom progress. The δ13C signatures suggested different POM origin, from terrestrial to fresh ice algal production, depending on the location and sea ice cover characteristics.

The presented results are part of Polish National Science Centre SeaIceFun project no. 2015/19/B/NZ8/03945.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 172 | Page Poster presentations

Arctic zooplankton. The insight into how environmental conditions shape zooplankton community in a changing Arctic marine ecosystems

Mateusz Ormanczyk, Marta Gluchowska, Anna Olszewska, Slawomir Kwasniewski

Institute of Oceanology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

The awareness of ongoing climate change does lead to the important research question: What will be the directions of Arctic marine ecosystem modifications as a result of climate change? Studies in frontier zones between different climatic and biogeographic regions either provide an opportunity to observe ecosystems functioning at their original states, or are already undergoing reorganisation. Such area is the Svalbard archipelago, where complex oceanography defines areas of more Arctic or Atlantic character.

Zooplankton inhabiting Hornsund and Kongsfjorden, fjords on Spitsbergen Island (European Arctic), were investigated in summer 2013. The goal of the study was to find out if and how do the zooplankton communities from ecosystems functioning under “cold”, Arctic (Hornsund), and “warm”, Atlantic (Kongsfjorden) oceanographic regimes differ. Zooplankton communities were compared with respect to species diversity, abundance, biomass, size structure and biogeographic and trophic composition. Collection of zooplankton was conducted with three nets of different mesh and selectivity, allowing comparing the community as a whole and also in three size fractions: 10 mm.

Zooplankton species composition did not differ substantially between the fjords, but there were differences in relative abundance of the key taxa, and some species were found only in one fjord. Zooplankton community in colder fjord Hornsund was, in general, almost two times less abundant, and had lower total biomass. This pattern was observed for the whole zooplankton size spectrum, as well as for each size fraction. In 2013, the proportion of taxa with Arctic and boreo‐Arctic biogeographic affinity was higher in Hornsund, in comparison to Kongsfjorden, in support of the study hypothesis assuming that the fjords function under different marine environmental regimes. Nonetheless, the comparison of the zooplankton biogeographic composition in 2013 and in previous years indicated visible year‐to‐year fluctuations in zooplankton structure, corresponding to oscillations in the fjord’s physical environment.

The results of the study allow foreseeing possible reaction of the Arctic marine ecosystems to temperature rise, related to climate change.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 173 | Page Poster presentations

Sea‐ice change on the Northwest Passage and impact to local food security and health in the communities of Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk

Bindu Panikkar 1, Benjamin Lemmond 1, Brent Else 2, Maribeth Murray 3

1University of Vermont, USA, 2University of Calgary, Canada, 3Arctic Institute of North America

The Canadian Arctic remains a region of high food insecurity due to reduced access to country foods, high rates of poverty and high costs of food, declining participation in hunting, and decline in wildlife. Sea‐ice change and the resulting changes to marine systems and dependent terrestrial systems may further exacerbate food security and health issues in this region. This research examines the observations of Inuit elders and hunters of sea‐ice change in the Northwest Passage and its impact to food security and health in the communities of Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk. Inuit elders report challenges to hunting both terrestrial and marine mammals and fish from sea‐ice change. The elders expressed increased difficulty with access to traditional food sources due to changes in wildlife migration patterns from earlier se‐ice melt and later sea‐ice formation, increased accidents in wildlife, decline in stocks, increased difficulty and added expense in reaching traditional food sources, and health hazards related to navigation. Increased reliance on snowmobiles as a primary mode of over‐land transit while increases the distances that can be easily travelled to access traditional food sources, it undermine this potential benefit, with rising equipment costs and fuel which make hunting trips increasingly expensive, and such trips perilous with unsafe ice conditions and frequent equipment failures. With limitations on access to traditional food sources, the communities are dependent on store‐bought foods, which may contribute other chronic diseases. Sharing networks and traditional food banks are important to improve rampant food security issues in the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 174 | Page Poster presentations

Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART): A Pan‐Arctic Network to understand past, present and future changes of Arctic marine system

Alexey Pavlov 1, Monika Kędra 2, Nathalie Morata 3, Ilka Peeken 4, Renate Degen 5, Helen Findlay 6, Michael Fritz 4, Allison Fong 4, Christopher Horvat 7, Jinyoung Jung 8, Kathrin Keil 9, Sanna Majaneva 10, Makoto Sampei 11, Allyson Tessin 12, Kirstin Werner 4

1Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway, 2Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 3Akvaplan‐niva AS, Norway, 4Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 5University of Vienna, Austria, 6Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK, 7Harvard University, USA, 8Korea Polar Research Institute, Korea, Republic of, 9Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Germany, 10UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 11Hokkaido University, Japan, 12University of Leeds, UK

The Arctic currently experiences an unprecedented pace of transformation of which the changing Arctic sea‐ice cover is one of the key and alarming indicators. Sea ice plays a central role in the Arctic system, and therefore, its decline and thinning has a multitude of implications ranging from physics and biology to geopolitics and economics. Timely planning and mitigation activities in the Arctic are challenging given the mismatch between observed and predicted patterns of change. To enable robust projections of future conditions throughout the Arctic region, a holistic pan‐Arctic approach spanning across disciplines is required. Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART; http://iasc.info/networks/arctic‐in‐rapid‐transition) is a pan‐Arctic scientific network developed and steered by early‐career scientists, which aims at studying the impact of environmental changes on the Arctic marine ecosystem. ART has a focus on bridging time‐scales by incorporating paleo‐studies with modern observations and modelling, applying various science disciplines to better understand the past and present response of the Arctic marine ecosystems to sea‐ice transitions and climate change and to improve our capability of predicting future scenarios. Initiated as a continuation of the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning II (ICARP II) Marine Roundtable in 2008, ART became an official International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) network in 2013.

The first phase of ART (2010‐2014) focused on developing a formal network to bring together scientists working in different geographic and disciplinary areas who share a common interest in improving our understanding of Arctic change. The ART networked two science workshops: “Overcoming Challenges of Observation to Model Integration in Marine Ecosystem Response to Sea Ice Transitions” (Poland, 2012) and “Integrating spatial and temporal scales in the changing Arctic System: towards future research priorities (ISTAS)” (France, 2014). The first workshop resulted in a special issue in Polar Research, while the second one resulted in various priorities for future Arctic research stated from an early career scientists’ perspective, which contributed to the ICARP III process (Werner et al. 2016). The second phase of ART (2014‐2018) focuses on data collection. The core activity, the TRANSSIZ (Transitions in the Arctic Seasonal Sea Ice Zone) expedition was conducted in 2015 from the German research icebreaker RV “Polarstern”. The final phase of ART will be a synthesis, linking modelling and observations communities to develop more robust scenarios of the future state of Arctic coastal and marine ecosystems, their productive capacity, and their role in regional and global processes.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 175 | Page Poster presentations

@OceanSeaIceNPI: positive practice of Arctic science outreach via social media

Alexey Pavlov, Amelie Meyer, Sebastian Gerland, Jennifer King, Lana Cohen, Anja Rösel, Polona Itkin, Jean Negrel, Paul Dodd, Laura de Steur, Mats Granskog

Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway

As researchers, we are keen to share our passion for science with the general public. We are encouraged to do so by colleagues, journalists, policy‐makers and funding agencies. How can we best achieve this in a small research group without having specific resources and skills such as funding, dedicated staff, and training? How do we sustain communication on a regular basis as opposed to the limited lifetime of a specific project?

The emerging platforms of social media have become powerful and inexpensive tools to communicate science for various audiences. Many research institutions and individual researchers are already advanced users of social media, but small research groups and labs remain underrepresented.

A small group of oceanographers, sea ice, and atmospheric scientists at the Norwegian Polar Institute have been running their social media science outreach for two years via a suite of @OceanSeaIceNPI accounts. Here we share our successful experience of developing and maintaining a researcher‐driven outreach through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We present our framework for sharing responsibilities within the group to maximize effectiveness. Each media channel has a target audience for which the posts are tailored. Collaboration with other online organizations and institutes is key for the growth of the channels. Posts that have an educational value reach our 4000+ followers on a weekly basis. If you have questions about our @OceanSeaIceNPI initiative or about research we conduct, you can tweet them with a #ask_oceanseaicenpi hashtag anytime.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 176 | Page Poster presentations

Transitions in the Arctic Seasonal Sea Ice Zone ‐‐ TRANSSIZ: A cruise to the European Arctic margin initiated by the Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) network

Ilka Peeken 1, Marcel Babin 2, Marie‐Amelie Blais 2, Flavienne Bruyant 2, Christine Dybwad 3, Hauke Flores 1, Allison Fong 1, Valerie Gros 4, Yannick Huot 5, Markus Janout 1, Christian Katlein 1, Monika Kedra 6, Piotr Kowalczuk 6, Thomas Krumpen 1, Georgi Laukert 7, Ludvig Loewemark 8, Jens Matthiessen 1, Katja Metfies 1, Christine Michel 9, Gesine Mollenhauer 1, Nathalie Morata 10, Anna Nikolopoulos 11, Barbara Niehoff 1, Matt O'Regan 12, Marit Reigstad 3, Jean‐Éric Tremblay 2, Carolyn Wegner 7, Kirstin Werner 1, Jutta Wollenburg 1, shipboard party and 13 Polarstern

1Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung, Germany, 2Takuvik and Québec‐Océan, Biology Department, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, Canada, 3University of Tromsø, Norway, 4Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (LEMAR), IUEM, France, 5Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté des lettres et Sciences Humaines, Département de Géomatique, Canada, 6IOPAN – Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 7GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Germany, 8National Taiwan University Department of Geosciences, Taiwan, 9Fisheries and Oceans Canada Freshwater Institute (FWI), Canada, 10Akvaplan‐niva AS, Fram Centre/ Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (LEMAR), France, 11AquaBiota Water Research, Sweden, 12Stockholm University Department of Geological Sciences, Sweden, 13Polarstern

The TRANSSIZ (‘Transitions in the Arctic Seasonal Sea Ice Zone’) cruise PS92 on the German research icebreaker R/V Polarstern in May/June 2015 was initiated by the “Arctic in Rapid Transition” (ART) International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) network. The overall cruise goal was to use a multidisciplinary approach to identify the potential characteristics in carbon production as well as to investigate similarities and differences in ecosystem functioning related to gradients in topography, sea ice and water masses, and to link past and present sea‐ice transitions in the Arctic Ocean. During the transit to the investigation area changes of dissolved trace gases, nutrients and phytoplankton composition were studied from 57°N to 80°N. In order to achieve the overall goals of the cruise, ecological and biogeochemical early spring process studies were conducted from the shelf to the basins of the European Arctic margin and on the Yermak Plateau. At eight sea‐ice stations, R/V Polarstern was anchored for 36 hours to an ice floe in order to carry out process studies on productivity, ecosystem interactions, and carbon and nitrogen cycling.

Sea‐ice station work involved sampling for biological, physical and chemical variables, trace gases and geological proxy validation, as well as deployment of short‐term moorings, profiling of microstructure and velocities, and a Remotely Operated Vehicle to study sea ice optical properties. Sea‐ice thickness was further monitored by helicopter towing an EM‐ bird. Under‐ice fauna, sea ice properties and ice algae biomass were investigated with a “Surface Under Ice Trawl”. Plankton and benthic communities and related processes were studied by using traditional and acoustic tools. Detailed bathymetric mapping and sub‐ bottom profiling systems (Hydrosweep and Parasound) were used to find suitable coring positions for geological stations deploying coring devices such as the Multi‐corer, Kastenlot and Gravity cores.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 177 | Page Poster presentations

Special emphasis during this expedition was given to the quantification of the environmental preconditions for biological productivity (e.g. nutrients, stratification) under sea ice and in open waters. These studies will allow improving predictions of the potential annual primary production in a potentially ice‐free Arctic Ocean in the future. Investigations during TRANSSIZ also enable reconstructions of productivity, food web carbon flux, and sea ice and ocean circulation across the few last glacial cycles. The cruise will further improve the understanding of ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycles in the transition from spring to summer in the European Arctic margin. (Cruise‐report at (http://epic.awi.de/39592/).

Arctic Frontiers 2017 178 | Page Poster presentations

Warming up the Barents Sea food web

Benjamin Planque 1, Lia Siegelman‐Charbit 2, Ulf Lindstrøm 3, Sam Subbey 3

1Institute of Marine Research, Norway, 2Univ. Brest, France, 3IMR, Norway

The effect of ocean warming on individual species is generally understood through shifts in their spatial distribution, phenological changes (seasonal timing) and possibly alteration of their vital rates. The effect of ocean warming on whole communities or ecosystems is much more difficult to address because of the complex set of interactions and feedback mechanisms which are expected to generate non‐linear responses of complex biological systems to warming. We use a minimalistic modelling approach, specifically designed to simulate the dynamics of complex networks in the case of incomplete and vague knowledge. With this simulation platform, we explore the possible effects of temperature change on the whole Barents Sea food web, from ‐2 to +2°C. We investigate in particular the effects of warming on biological productivity and stability of the food web. Our results suggest that warming gradually leads to food web configurations that are less stable. Warming is associated with an increase in trophic fluxes between prey and predators, leading to increased biological productivity. However, productivity at intermediate and high trophic levels can increase at high temperature only if the supporting primary production also increases with warming.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 179 | Page Poster presentations

Methodological considerations for quantification of predation in the Arctic marine microbial food web

Bernadette Pree 1, Maria Lund Paulsen 1, Lena Seuthe 2, Aud Larsen 1

1University of Bergen, Norway, 2University of Tromsø, Norway

Heterotrophic bacteria are central contributors to carbon production and biomass in the Arctic Ocean. Whereas the knowledge of abundance, diversity and activity of heterotrophic bacteria has increased in recent years, quantification of interactions (e.g. predation, viral lysis) with other microbial functional groups remains largely unknown. Experiments that aim to measure predator‐prey interactions are challenged due to the small (pico‐ to nano‐) size, low abundances and activity of predator and prey communities in the Arctic Ocean, especially during winter conditions. We have previously investigated the reliability of the dilution method, designed to measure grazing losses of phytoplankton, for bacterivory in Porsangerfjorden in Northern Norway (70°) during spring bloom conditions by including bacterial production measurements as a proxy for specific growth. We found that the experimental methodological procedure has the potential to alter specific growth rates of bacteria, thus biasing the derived grazing rates. Results of a follow‐up study in the High Arctic (80°) during very different environmental conditions (late winter) lend additional support to the recommendation to include specific growth measurements when deriving bacterivory rates with the dilution method. Besides elevated specific growth rates of bacteria in dilutions during the follow‐up experiment in the High Arctic, low bacterial abundances and low specific growth rates were close to detection limit and constituted a limitation to the dilution method. As bacterivory mediates the transfer of carbon and mineral nutrients to higher trophic levels we suggest more effort should be put into getting the quantification right. This is especially relevant, when considering that increasing terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) load is expected to fuel bacterial production in the Arctic Ocean, which will impact also communities higher up in the microbial food web.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 180 | Page Poster presentations

The interaction of reproduction and shell growth in the bivalve Callista chione

Ariadna Purroy 1, Melita Peharda 1, Bernd R. Schöne 2, Julien Thébault 3

1Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia, 2Institute of Geosciences, Germany, 3Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, France

It is widely accepted that bivalve shell growth responds to environmental factors, however, few studies analyse the influence of biological drivers on growth, including reproduction. Within the ARAMACC framework, we evaluated the reproductive cycle of Callista chione as a potential driver of shell formation rate. C. chione is a commercially important species and due to its longevity (> 20 years) is an interesting target for sclerochronological studies. Sampling was conducted in two different environmental settings along the eastern Adriatic coast, Pag and Cetina, and the monthly collection was carried out for an 18‐month period. 13 Temperature was measured hourly, whereas Chl a and δ CPOM were determined monthly. The Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) was used as a unit of measure for variation in gonadal mass. 18 The oxygen isotope composition of several shells (δ Oshell), once converted into seawater temperature, was used to determine the duration of the main growth season. Minimum monthly temperatures differed by ca. 4°C between Pag and Cetina (8.9°C and 12.7°C, 13 respectively), whereas maximum temperatures were similar. Chl a and δ CPOM values showed distinct temporal trends. A clear seasonal cycle in GSI was observed, however, it was not synchronous between sites. In Pag, GSI started to increase in early spring and reached maximum values during the summer, with a main spawning peak in July. In Cetina, increasing GSI values were observed during winter reaching maximum values in early spring, whereas spawning took place on several occasions during late spring and summer. The difference in temperature ranges may explain the spawning lag observed between sites. The highest temperatures in Pag coincided with the main spawning peaks, while in Cetina 18 temperature was inversely related to the GSI throughout the year. Based on δ Oshell values, the fastest shell growth occurred between the winter and summer, thus, a correlative allocation of energy to growth and reproduction was observed at both sites, with a decline in 13 growth after spawning. More positive δ CPOM values, indicative of fresh material, were related to periods following the main spawning peaks when the GSI was low; conversely, more negative values were observed during the most ripe stages and maximum spawning peaks. This suggests that the allocation of energy to growth was higher during earlier reproductive stages when nutrients were more abundant, followed by a shift of energy investment toward gonad production and a decrease in nutrients.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 181 | Page Poster presentations

Testing proxy‐based multivariate linear regression methods for the reconstruction of North Atlantic SSTs

Maria Pyrina, Sebastian Wagner, Eduardo Zorita

Helmholtz‐Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany

The methods to reconstruct past sea‐surface temperatures are often based on proxy records as statistical predictors. Here, two statistical models methods to reconstruct the past Sea Surface Temperature (SST) of the North Atlantic Ocean (NA), between 60˚W–30˚E and 40˚N– 70˚N, from proxy records of Arctica islandica were tested in an idealized pseudo‐proxy experiment set‐up with state‐of‐the‐art climate models (CMIP5 Earth System Models). The multivariate linear regression methods applied are Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA).

We apply these methods to reconstruct the past North Atlantic SSTs, and assess the differences of the Climate Field Reconstruction (CFR) that arise using idealized pseudo‐ proxies and noise‐contaminated pseudo‐proxies. Idealized pseudo‐proxies are the grid point modelled or reanalysed SSTs co‐located with the collection sites of the bivalve shell Arctica islandica, while in the case of noise‐contaminated pseudo‐proxies the grid point temperatures are deteriorated with statistical noise in order to mimic more realistically the real world proxy records of Arctica islandica.

First results, based on the idealised pseudo‐proxies, indicate that the SSTs of the Northeast Atlantic can be reconstructed using five proxy locations of Arctica islandica. However, there are differences between the original (simulated) and the reconstructed temporal evolution of the SST anomalies in the NA Ocean that are model dependent, which could be a caveat for the reconstruction of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). With the CFR methods, we can get a spatially resolved picture of the impact of AMO changes over the North Atlantic Ocean, the origin of the fluctuations on different time scales as well as their relation to changes in external forcing.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 182 | Page Poster presentations

A Baffin Bay Acoustic Communication and Navigation System: Acoustic Environment and Propagation Modelling Results

Eric Rehm 1, Marcel Babin 1, Kevin Heaney 2

1Takuvik / Université Laval, Canada, 2Ocean Acoustical Services and Instrumentations Systems, USA

To understand better the biogeochemical and physical oceanographic conditions in the Arctic, we need year‐round observations with high spatio‐temporal resolution. Autonomous underwater vehicles can provide this capability. In open water, autonomous floats and gliders can periodically surface and use GPS to determine their position. Iridium satellite communication can be used to send data back to land‐based ocean data centres for analysis, research and operational decision‐making. However, year‐round autonomous operation in the Arctic is not currently possible because ice cover prevents floats and gliders from positioning (geolocating) their measurements as well as relaying data to shore for long periods; neither GPS nor satellite data communications are possible under the ice. As a result, our current set of scientific observations of the Arctic is biased towards spring and summer when it is navigable by ships and when autonomous platforms can safely surface. To comprehend truly the winter Arctic waters in the manner that has been achieved in world’s more temperate oceans, floats and gliders require additional capability for underwater geolocation and periodic communication. We propose a Baffin Bay Acoustic Navigation and Communication System (BBANC), which will use passive acoustic monitoring along with broadband low‐frequency sources to provide basin‐wide coverage of RAFOS‐style signals for acoustic positioning of underwater assets. Low‐frequency acoustic receivers would be collocated with the sources to enable ocean acoustic tomography for long‐term study of basin‐scale heat content and currents. Passive acoustic listening systems will enable the study of marine mammal communication and ambient noise from ships, sonar, ocean‐ based resource exploitation and ice dynamics, as well as helping to define the background noise environment for acoustic propagation studies. As well, the passive acoustic component could gate acoustic source operation in the presence of marine mammals, helping to address concerns about BBANC acoustic sources and potential masking of marine mammal communications. The BBANC Project completed a collaborative feasibility study to describe the basic challenges and design parameters of such a system, as well as define additional acoustic measurements required to complete a system design. Drawing from a database of over 10,000 historical temperature‐salinity profiles in Baffin Bay, we will present statistics of the ambient noise environment as well as simulations of under‐ice sound speed conditions, ice properties derived from satellite remote sensing and upward looking sonar data, and modelled acoustic propagation paths in an ice‐covered Baffin Bay. Impacts of such a system on marine mammal populations will be discussed via a comparison of proposed sound levels with existing natural and anthropogenic soundscape.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 183 | Page Poster presentations

Genetic complexity in the marine environment: are the management units of the Northeast arctic stocks in line with their biological units?

Atal Saha, Benjamin Planque, Torild Johansen

Institute of Marine Research, Norway

The preservation of populations’ resilience and evolutionary potential of exploited species rely on their sustainable management. Genetic diversity within species may serve to define management units that are biologically meaningful. Significant genetic diversity has been described for many marine species despite the apparent lack of physical barriers to migration in the marine environment. Modern genetic methods provide improved capabilities to identify biologically distinct populations and thereby to explore genetic complexity. Here, we investigated genetic complexity in three commercially exploited species from the North Atlantic: saithe (Pollachius virens L.), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), and beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella). The results were used to assess the consistency between current management units and units identified by results based on genetic data for each species. Panels of nuclear genomic markers, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and microsatellites, were analysed to explore genetic complexity within these highly migratory and continuously distributed species. Four genetic clusters of saithe and two clusters of Greenland halibut were found in the North Atlantic. For beaked redfish, results using microsatellite data revealed a more complex structure. We found three morphs (‘shallow’, ‘deep’, and ‘slope’) of beaked redfish with different depth preferences. In addition, the ‘shallow’ morph was further structured into three populations. Genetic isolation in beaked redfish was greater than in saithe and Greenland halibut, which is possibly associated with unique life history features of redfishes. These findings imply that distinct genetic heterogeneity can exist in different marine species and may be influenced by abiotic factors like geographic distance, seascape and hydro‐dynamics, water depth, and time since divergence. Furthermore, different biotic factors such as natal homing, sex biased migration, introgression, and sexual selection may contribute to shaping species’ genetic patterns. The results highlight that in most cases the current management units of these species are comprised of multiple biological populations. The new definition of gene pools may serve to define biologically meaningful management units to ensure their sustainable exploitation and preserve evolutionary legacies.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 184 | Page Poster presentations

Arctic primary production estimates thought three different methods: Are they comparable and what do they tell us?

Marina Sanz‐Martín 1, María Vernet 2, Elena Mesa 3, Paloma Carrillo‐de‐Albornoz 4, Mattias Cape 5, Antonio Delgado‐Huertas 3, Marit Reigstad 6, Paul F. Wassmann 6, Carlos Duarte 4

1Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA), Spain, 2Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, USA, 3Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT‐CSIC‐UGR), Spain, 4Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, 5Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, 6Institute of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Phytoplankton photosynthesis produces half of the primary production in the biosphere and it is the major source of energy for the Arctic Ocean. Primary production is one of the most crucial determinations in biological oceanography although none of current methods provide a definitive measurement and the assumptions that lay behind every method should be taken in account. Primary production can be generally quantified as C‐assimilation or as O2‐production and the accepted ratio is 1:1 but the metabolic pathways of carbon and oxygen for photosynthesis are different and all oxygen‐producing metabolic processes are not directly related to carbon assimilation. Here, we provide the first comparison of three methods to estimate primary production in the Arctic Ocean: oxygen production of 18O‐ labeled (GPP‐18O), changes in dissolved oxygen (GPP‐DO) and incorporation rates of 14C‐ labelled into the total organic carbon (14C‐TOC) and into the particulate carbon (14C‐POC). Our results in the northwestern part of Svalbard (n = 25) show that gross primary production 14 provided by the O2 methods is higher than primary production measured with C method because it approximates to net primary production rather than gross primary production, which is partially in agreement with the sole multi‐regional pair‐wise study of Regaudie‐de‐ Gioux et al., 2014 because they concluded that GPP‐18O method provided the highest estimates of primary production but it was not compared with GPP‐DO method. In this study, we found a different pattern, at least in the Arctic Ocean: GPP‐18O ≈ GPP‐DO > 14C‐ TOC > 14C‐POC

Arctic Frontiers 2017 185 | Page Poster presentations

The importance of sea ice in the life cycle of Arctic zooplankton and nekton.

Fokje Schaafsma 1, Julia Ehrlich 2, Hauke Flores 2, Giulia Castellani 3, Doreen Kohlbach 2, Carmen David 2, André Meijboom 1, Martina Vortkamp 3, Jan Andries van Franeker 1

1Wageningen Marine Research, Netherlands, 2Alfred Wegener Institute & University of Hamburg, Germany, 3Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany

Reductions in sea ice concentration and the duration of the melt season have been recorded in the Arctic Ocean in recent decades, and are predicted to continue in the future. Some zooplankton species spend part of their life cycle associated with sea‐ice, while other complete their entire life cycle within it. Ice‐associated zooplankton species such as the copepod Calanus glacialis and the amphipod Apherusa glacialis are an important food source for young polar cod (Boreogadus saida) which in turn provide an important food source for e.g. sea birds. This is an example of how ice‐associated species have a crucial role in transferring carbon from sea‐ice to higher trophic levels. There is, however, still much uncertainty on how organisms use the sea ice, how pelagic species relate to ice‐associated species in terms of e.g. distribution, how this changes seasonally and how the sea ice structures the underlying zooplankton community. In order to gain insight in the role of sea ice in the life cycles of Arctic marine species, the under ice surface layer was sampled using the Surface and Under Ice Trawl (SUIT) during the TRANSSIZ expedition. This expedition was conducted in 2015 during the transition from spring to summer, close to the Svalbard shelf. Species distribution directly under ice and in deeper water layers in our near‐shelf study will be compared with earlier work in the in the deeper basins of the Arctic Ocean.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 186 | Page Poster presentations

Role of a natural and geographical factors in the process of adaptation of immigrants to Siberia at the beginning of the XX century

Pavel Shinkevich

Omsk State University, Russia

Author of the article considers influence of natural and geographical factors of places of installation of agrarian immigrants of the beginning of the XX century in Siberia. Moreover in article are studied mechanisms of overcoming of these factors. Author uses materials about places of an exit of immigrants and interrelation of places exits and degrees of success of process of adaptation are provided.

Keywords: agrarian resettlements, history of Siberia, adaptation of immigrants, population of Siberia, Russians of Siberia

Arctic Frontiers 2017 187 | Page Poster presentations

Hibernating zooplankton and consequences of increased sea temperatures in winter

Janne E. Søreide 1, Daniela Freese 2, Barbara Niehoff 2

1The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, 2Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany

In Arctic shelf seas, the large copepod Calanus glacialis plays a key ecological role as grazer and nutritious food for others. It efficiently build up large lipid stores during the short, but intense algal bloom before it migrates down to deeper and colder parts of the water column where it reduce its metabolism to a minimum to survive the food poor winter. During the last decade, bottom water temperatures in many Svalbard fjords have increased several degrees from close to freezing (‐1.8°C) to several plus degrees. How this impacts zooplankton physiology and biology during their overwintering is poorly known. We incubated Calanus glacialis CV for more than a month during the polar night at two different temperatures. As expected the metabolism to Calanus incubated at 4°C were higher than for those incubated at ‐1°C. Another somewhat surprising consequence, however, was the earlier moult from CV to adults at warm temperatures. The winter‐spring transition period is known to be tough for Calanus, resulting in high mortality. Increased metabolism combined with an earlier moult from CV to adults in winter, without a corresponding earlier onset of the algal bloom in spring, may increase the mortality of the spawning Calanus stock and thus the overall Calanus reproduction.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 188 | Page Poster presentations

What happens on landscapes does not stay on landscapes: changing freshwater inputs of mercury to polar marine ecosystems from contrasting low and high arctic watersheds in northern Canada

Kyra St. Pierre, Scott Zolkos, Sarah Shakil, Jessica Serbu, Vincent St. Louis, Suzanne Tank

University of Alberta, Canada

The arctic freshwater cycle is rapidly changing. Glaciers and ice sheets are melting, permafrost is thawing and precipitation patterns are shifting throughout the region. In fact, models predict that in 50 years due to climate warming, river discharge to the Arctic Ocean may increase by 25‐50% (Arctic Freshwater Synthesis) with yet unknown consequences on water quality, productivity and physical structure of nearshore marine environments. Our ability to predict the future health and productivity of these marine arctic ecosystems thus ultimately depends on our understanding of arctic freshwater resources discharging into them. Here we present the results of detailed water quality surveys of two arctic watersheds in northern Canada: one in the High Arctic, dominated by glacier melt, and one in the Low Arctic, defined by extensive retrogressive thaw slump activity. The Lake Hazen watershed (82°N) is anchored by Lake Hazen (542 km2, 267 m deep), which collects meltwater from the Grant Land Ice Cap before flowing into the Ruggles River and onward to the fjords of north eastern Ellesmere Island. The Peel River watershed (68°N) is a tributary of the Mackenzie River, a major inflow to the Beaufort Sea. Transects extending from glaciers/permafrost slumps downstream were completed in 2015 and 2016 to assess the impacts of changes in the terrestrial cryosphere to freshwater quality. In particular, we will use neurotoxic mercury, transported over long distances and archived in ice over centuries, to follow the impact of glacier melt and/or permafrost slumping on downstream aquatic ecosystems. Results of these surveys and possible implications of freshwater nutrient and contaminant exports to polar oceans from these dynamic landscapes will be discussed.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 189 | Page Poster presentations

Structural and functional adaptations of Umbilicaria epilithic lichen genus in rocky habitats of Karelia

Anna Tsunskaia, Angella Sonina

Petrozavodsk State University, Russia

Anatomical and physiological features of two epilithic lichen species, Umbilicaria deusta and U. hyperborea, have been studied for the first time. The research took place on the White Sea coast (North Karelia) and rocky habitat plant communities (South Karelia). Both species are widely spread and ecologically versatile, which allowed to assume their structural and functional variability. We found that U. deusta is morphologically variable but functionally stable with only a slight photosynthetic pigment complex variation. In addition, U. hyperborea species shows both morphological and functional variability due to significant variation of photosynthetic pigment parameters. This research reveals two ways of Umbilicaria species adaptation to abiotic environmental factors, most importantly humidity and light. U. deusta shows mycobiont’s structural changes, which is a structural adaptation. U. hyperborea shows a different adaptation strategy that includes both changes in mycobiont morphology and photobiont photosynthetic pigment variation, so that two symbionts provide adaptability for this species.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 190 | Page Poster presentations

Bathymetric distribution of benthic macrofauna in the Central Arctic

Andrey Vedenin 1, Manuela Gusky 2, Andrey Gebruk 1, Antonina Kremenetskaia 1, Elena Rybakova 1, Antje Boetius 2

1P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, 2Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany

The deep‐sea Arctic benthos and its spatial distribution are poorly studied compared to other parts of the ocean. The permanent ice coverage and the low production in the North Polar Region result in significant decrease of the biomass and density of macrobenthos in the Arctic bathyal and abyssal. Bathymetric and horizontal spatial distribution patterns of macrofauna were in focus of the present study. Samples taken during three expeditions (in 1993, 2012 and 2015) at 37 stations on the shelf and slope of the Barents and Laptev Seas and in the abyssal of the Nansen and Amundsen Basins in the depth range from 38 m to 4381 m were used for the quantitative analysis. Five groups of stations separated by depth were distinguished despite significant differences in sampling protocols: 1) a group on the shelf (38‐54 m); 2) a group on the lower shelf and upper slope (73‐577 m); 3) a group on the mid‐slope (981‐1216 m); 4) a group on the lower slope (1991‐3054 m); and 5) a group on the abyssal plain (3236‐4167 m). The decrease of density and biomass of macrobenthos with depth was confirmed for the Central Arctic Basin. The parabolic pattern of species diversity change with depth was shown for the first time for the Arctic Basin. In contrast to commonly discussed species richness peak at mid‐slope depths, the diversity maximum in our study was observed at depths 100‐300 m. No significant correlation between macrofaunal structure and environmental parameters (including the sea floor algal coverage and sea ice) were detected. The polychaete Ymerana pteropoda and the bryozoan Nolella sp. were found for the first time in the open areas of Nansen and Amundsen Basins.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 191 | Page Poster presentations

Seasonal studies on benthic oxygen fluxes ‐‐ The autonomous crawler TRAMPER

Frank Wenzhoefer 1, Johannes Lemburg 1, Michael Hofbauer 1, Sascha Lehmenhecker 1, Paul Faerber 2

1Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, 2Max‐ Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany

Polar regions play a central role for the global climate. Rapidly changing physical and chemical conditions, as observed and projected for the future, will affect the ecosystem functioning including productivity, remineralisation, and energy flow between ecosystem compartments. At the HAUSGARTEN deep‐sea observatory (FRAM Strait at about 79° N), studies on the pelagic‐benthic coupling are performed since 1999, to investigate how benthic life is governed by the food supply from surface waters. The use of new underwater technologies will thereby enhance our capabilities to improve our knowledge on the effects of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem.

Oxygen is a key molecule in earth ecology and global element cycles. Produced by photosynthesis, oxygen is the ultimate electron acceptor for organic matter mineralization and thus directly connected to the carbon cycle. A lot of our knowledge on oxygen exchange and carbon mineralization at the ocean floor originates from high‐resolution studies of oxygen distributions and fluxes at the sediment‐water interface. These studies allow the determination of the amount of organic material that escapes mineralisation and is retained in the sediment record. In situ measurements in the Arctic are usually limited to the ice‐free summer periods, thus limiting our knowledge on the dynamic range of seafloor remineralisation processes.

Here we present the fully autonomous benthic crawler TRAMPER, which is capable to record sediment oxygen distributions over a full annual cycle with translocation between consecutive measurements. During its mission the crawler, equipped with a multi‐optode‐ profiler, is pre‐programmed to perform >52 sets of vertical concentration profiles across the sediment‐water interface (one set each week) along a ~1 km transect. This new generation of optode‐based oxygen monitoring system mounted on a fully autonomous crawler will help to establish high‐temporal resolution benthic flux measurements in order to determine seasonal variations in organic matter turnover and benthic community respiration activity, and to close the carbon budget for the deep Arctic Ocean. The project is supported through HGF‐Alliance ROBEX ‐ Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments (HA‐304), the long‐term observatory FRAM (AWI), the EU‐FP7 project SenseOCEAN (Grant 614141), and the Max Planck Society and Helmholtz Association.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 192 | Page Poster presentations

Inshore fisheries resources, biogeography, and oceanography: insight from sampling aboard platforms of opportunity in the Canadian Arctic

Laura Wheeland 1, Brynn Devine 1, Barbara de Moura Neves 2, Hilary Rockwood 1, Devin Flawd 1, Jonathan A.D. Fisher 1

1Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, 2Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

With warming temperatures and decreasing sea ice, Canada’s North is facing growing interest in fisheries development, marine transportation and resource extraction. However, many Arctic areas are understudied, lacking baseline ecological data necessary for proper management of marine resources in the face of developing industries. Here we present findings on marine productivity, biogeography and oceanography recorded aboard two industry vessels that circumvented these issues, and acted as opportunistic platforms for marine research in the Canadian Arctic: (1) the Arctic Fishery Alliance’s commercial fishing vessel Kiviuq I undertaking exploratory fisheries (2014‐2016), and (2) the icebreaker RRS Ernest Shackleton escorting a cruise ship through the Northwest Passage (2016). Ecosystem surveys aboard the Kiviuq I occurred in waters adjacent to four Nunavut communities, with trap and longline fisheries operating during the summer open water period. Communities expressed particular interest in exploring for local resources of shrimp, whelk, and Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides. Fishing aimed to target areas identified by communities, as well as assess species distributions across a range of depths (to 850m) and geographic characteristics. Ten species of shrimp were captured, with two dominant species (Lebbeus polaris, Eualus gaimarii belcheri) found throughout the region, while Pandalus borealis were restricted to areas where bottom temperature was highest (to 1.3°C). Whelk Colus sp. were widespread, increasing with depth in Barrow Strait‐Lancaster Sound. Greenland halibut catches were minimal, and concentrated in deeper, relatively warmer waters. In total, sixteen genera of fish were caught. A high diversity of echinoderms was also noted, with Ophiuroids dominating the catch. Specimens of the cold water sea pen Umbellula encrinus were obtained as bycatch at depths of 360‐840 m. Colony size ranged from Kiviuq I and Ernest Shackleton measured oceanographic characteristics, providing information on available thermal habitat, while vertical net tows sampled zooplankton and larval fishes at stations along the path of both of these ships. A continuous plankton recorder was deployed from the Ernest Shackleton as it transited from Newfoundland to Baffin Island, providing high‐resolution samples along this transition zone between Arctic and Atlantic waters. This project highlights the ability of industry‐academia collaborations to collect much needed data on marine ecosystems in understudied areas of the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 193 | Page Poster presentations

Quantifying vital effects on element incorporation into shells of Arctica islandica

Liqiang Zhao 1, Irene Ballesta Artero 2, Regina Mertz‐Kraus 1, Rob Witbaard 2, Bernd R. Schöne 1

1Institute of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany, 2Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Netherlands

Long‐term and high‐resolution environmental proxy data prior to the instrumental era are crucial to contextualize current climate change in the Arctic Ocean. In this regard, the extremely long‐lived bivalve mollusc, Arctica islandica, is one of the most widely used paleoclimate archives that provides a temporal resolution of years and seasons. However, unravelling environmental histories from element impurities in shells of A. islandica remains an extremely challenging task, because vital effects (metabolic rate, ontogenetic age and growth rate) can modify the way in which physiochemical changes of the ambient environment are recorded by the shells. To quantify the degree to which element incorporation into A. islandica shells is vitally affected, we experimentally determined the element composition of the shells and environmental and physiological variables. Specimens of A. islandica were reared for three months under different water temperature and food level regimes. The condition index (CI) of each specimen which can be used as an indicator of physiological status was calculated as CI = dry soft tissue mass (g)/dry shell mass (g). Levels of magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) in water samples were measured by means of inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometer (ICP‐OES), and newly formed shell portions by means of laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Throughout the duration of bivalve rearing, Mg/Ca water, Sr/Ca water and Ba/Ca water showed little variations across all temperature and food ranges. Without exception, shells that formed at lowest levels of temperature and food availability incorporated the highest amounts of Mg, Sr and Ba, but showed the lowest value of CI. These results indicate that, under stressful conditions, the ability of A. islandica to discriminate element impurities during shell formation decreases. Since the uptake and incorporation of Mg, Sr and Ba into the shells take place from the ambient environment (water and/or food) into the haemolymph, then into the calcifying fluid, and ultimately into the crystal lattice, further efforts are being made to investigate how element discrimination occurs at different interfaces. Findings of the present study can pave the way for quantifying vital effects on the element composition of A. islandica shells and deciphering the underlying mechanisms driving shell element variability.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 194 | Page Poster presentations

Epibenthic communities in the Amerasian deep‐sea Chukchi Borderland

Irina Zhulay 1, Katrin Iken 2, Bodil Bluhm 1, Paul Renaud 3

1UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway, 2University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, 3Akvaplan‐niva, and University Centre in Svalbard, Norway

Relatively little is known about the epibenthic fauna in the deep Arctic Ocean, even though these communities contribute significantly to ecological functioning elsewhere in the world's deep oceans. Here, we describe epibenthic community structure across the hydrodynamically and topographically complex Chukchi Borderland area in the Pacific Arctic. Epibenthos was investigated based on bottom trawls (6 stations) and ROV imagery (11 stations) collected during the “Hidden Ocean: The Chukchi Borderlands” cruise at water depths ranging from 500 to 2640 m in July‐August 2016. Overall, taxon diversity from trawls was relatively poor with 88 species identified so far, and number of putative taxa ranging from 20 to 28 taxa at the trawl stations. Most of the stations were dominated in abundance by echinoderms (e.g., ophiuroids Ophiopleura borealis, Ophioscolex glacialis, sea star Pontaster tenuispinus), and decapods (e.g., Bythocaris spp.), or by sponges and stalked crinoids at deeper stations. Taxon composition at pockmark locations was markedly different from the surrounding plateau. For example, a shallow pockmark location (504 m) was characterized by dense aggregations of anemones, and a deep pockmark station (950 m) was unique in the high abundance of large pycnogonids. Heterogeneity of the epibenthic communities might reflect the topographic and hydrographic complexity of the study area. This ongoing study will contribute to the session 2 goal of exploring previously unknown Arctic areas.

Arctic Frontiers 2017 195 | Page Index of presenters

Index of presenters

Abyzova, 10 Estrella‐Martínez, 135 Leu, 30 Alexandroff, 114 Featherstone, 136 Lind, 160 Anufriieva, 115 Fey, 137 Link, 161 ARCTOS Research Network, Flores, 22 Litvinenko, 166 41 Frainer, 90 Liu, 71 Arefina, 116 Fransson, 138, 139 Long, 108 Arnbom, 52 French, 140 MacKenzie, 95 Aslaksen, 99 Friedrich, 141 Matishov, 162 Assmy, 11 Gabrielsen, 63 Mazurkiewicz, 163 Åström, 53 Gjøsæter, 64 McGovern, 72 Atchison, 117 Grebmeier, 23 Medvedev, 164 Bailey, 118 Gros, 15 Menze, 31 Ballesta‐Artero, 119 Halvorsen, 24 Merkouriadi, 165 Bartsch, 12 Hatlebakk, 65 Metfies, 73 Basedow, 13 Haug, 91 Milano, 74 Beierlein, 55, 120 Hermansen, 66 Moan, 86 Bergmann, 14 Hoel, 92 Morata, 32 Beuchel, 121 Hofmann, 104 Müller, 167 Bjørkan, 100 Høifødt, 105 Myasoedov, 168 Błachowiak‐Samołyk, 54 Holmes, 142 Negrel, 170 Black, 122 Hoppe, 25 Nicolaus, 75 Blix, 123 Hübner, 143 Niehoff, 76 Bluhm, 124, 125 Husebø, 106 Nikishina, 171 Bobyreva, 56, 101 Hvingel, 93 Nilsen, 96 Boehnke, 126 Ingvaldsen, 26 Oleszczuk, 172 Boissonnot, 57 Jain, 144 Olsen, 33 Bonitz, 58 Janout, 145 Ormanczyk, 173 Caddell, 102 Johansson, 67 Ostaszewska, 77 Campbell, 16, 127 Jørgensen, 94 Panikkar, 34, 78, 174 Carroll, 59 Kalfaoglu, 148 Paulsen, 35 Chao, 128 Käß, 149 Pavlenko, 109 Chircop, 103 Katlein, 27 Pavlov, 36, 175, 176 Coch, 17 Kauko, 28 Pedersen, 97 Cottier, 129 Kauppila, 107 Peeken, 37, 177 Daase, 60 Kędra, 146, 147 Planque, 98, 179 Dankel, 87, 130 King, 150 Pree, 180 Degen, 18 Kohlbach, 151 Prip, 110 Desportes, 88 Korneeva, 152 Purroy, 181 Devine, 61 Korolkov, 153 Pyrina, 182 Digre, 89 Kortsch, 68 Questel, 79 Dillon, 131 Kosobokova, 69 Randelhoff, 38 Dmoch, 19 Kraan, 154 Ray, 39 Drits, 132 Krawczuk, 155 Rehm, 183 Duarte, 20 Kubiszyn, 156 Reigstad, 40 Dybwad, 133 Kuznetsova, 157 Røsæg, 111 Edvardsen, 21 Kwasniewski, 29, 158 Saha, 184 Egge, 134 Lange, 70 Sanz‐Martín, 185 Ellingsen, 62 Latonin, 159 Schaafsma, 186

Arctic Frontiers 2017 196 | Page Index of presenters

Scherrer, 42 Trudnowska, 82 Weissenberger, 50 Schmid, 80 Tsagaraki, 46 Wenzhoefer, 83, 192 Sen, 43 Tsunskaia, 190 Weslawski, 84 Seuthe, 44 Utvik, 112 Wheeland, 193 Shinkevich, 187 Vader, 47 Wilson, 85 Søreide, 188 Våge, 49 Wolf, 51 St. Pierre, 189 Vedenin, 191 Zhao, 194 Svensen, 45 Vernet, 48 Zhulay, 195 Trofimova, 81 Wegge, 113

Arctic Frontiers 2017 197 | Page

Arctic Frontiers 2017 ISBN 978‐82‐690420‐1‐6