Journal
AMBIO
Volume 51, Issue 2, Pages 333-344Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01667-y
Keywords
Biogeography; Fram Strait; Life-cycle; Ocean warming; Sea-ice loss; Zooplankton
Categories
Funding
- Changing Arctic Ocean (CAO) Program DIAPOD - UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NE/P006213/1, NE/P006353/1, NE/P006302/1, NE/P005985/1]
- Changing Arctic Ocean (CAO) Program Arctic PRIZE - UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NE/P006213/1, NE/P006353/1, NE/P006302/1, NE/P005985/1]
- CAO Project CHASE - NERC [NE/R012733/1]
- CAO Project CHASE - German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [03F0803A]
- NERC [NE/R012733/1, NE/P005985/1, NE/P006302/1, NE/P006213/1, NE/P006353/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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The changing Arctic environment is influencing key zooplankton species such as Calanus finmarchicus, with areas near the ice-edge in the Fram Strait becoming more favorable for their habitat. This increase in suitable habitat is likely due to the long-term retreat of the ice-edge, allowing for earlier and longer phytoplankton blooms and higher temperatures that enhance copepod developmental rates. These changes can have significant implications for community structure and regional food-webs.
The changing Arctic environment is affecting zooplankton that support its abundant wildlife. We examined how these changes are influencing a key zooplankton species, Calanus finmarchicus, principally found in the North Atlantic but expatriated to the Arctic. Close to the ice-edge in the Fram Strait, we identified areas that, since the 1980s, are increasingly favourable to C. finmarchicus. Field-sampling revealed part of the population there to be capable of amassing enough reserves to overwinter. Early developmental stages were also present in early summer, suggesting successful local recruitment. This extension to suitable C. finmarchicus habitat is most likely facilitated by the long-term retreat of the ice-edge, allowing phytoplankton to bloom earlier and for longer and through higher temperatures increasing copepod developmental rates. The increased capacity for this species to complete its life-cycle and prosper in the Fram Strait can change community structure, with large consequences to regional food-webs.
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