Primary production in relation to climatic changes in the Barents Sea
Abstract
The Barents Sea is charaeterized by extreme environmental conditions that
have considerable infiuence on the biological development, especially during
spring. Based on physical and biological observations obtained during a six
years period and a mathematical model for phyto- and zooplankton, we have
examined the biological developmen t in relation to the climatie changes which
occurred during this period. The main effect of climatic variations is in
determining the timing of the phytoplankton spring bloom in the different
water masses, Warm years are characterized by a delayed phytoplankton bloom
and an earlier stage development of zooplankton in Atlantic waters, apparently
resulting in a higher proportion of the spring bloom being grazed and
channelized to higher pelagic trophic levels. Cold years, on the contrary, can
result In earller ice-edge spring bloom and late development of zooplankton ,
eausing a signlfieant portion of the primary production to be left ungrazed
and to sediment out to the deeper water layers and the bottom.
Description
The effect of oceanographic conditiond on disrtibution and population dynamics of commerical fish stocks in the Barents Sea. Proceedings of the third Soviet-Norwegian Symposium. Murmansk, 26-28 May 1986.
Series
PINRO-IMR Symposium3