Bering Sea Ecosystem Study
description
Transcript of Bering Sea Ecosystem Study
Bering Sea Ecosystem Study
Changing Climate
Seasonal sea ice has retreated over last two decades (1970 - 2002)
Percent ice cover within gray box on map above
Maximum ice extent
P. Stabeno & J. Overland, PMEL
♦
Vertically Averaged Water Temperature (°C) at M2
P. Stabeno, PMEL
What is BEST ?
• Mechanistic and Predictive Program:
Designed to understand and predict the consequences of climate change for Bering Sea marine ecosystems
• End to End Approach: Climate, physics, primary production, zooplankton, fish, birds, marine mammals and people
Assembling an End-to-End Program
www.arcus.org/bering/
- Atmosphere / Ocean
- Local Physics
- Phys - Biol Coupling
- Food Web Interactions
- Harvesting / Fisheries
- Socioeconomic Aspects
- Modeling Activities
- Field Research
- Retrospective Studies
BEST Priority Research Modules
• How is the Disappearance of Sea Ice Affecting the Bering Sea Ecosystem?
• What Controls the Abundance of Nutrients on the Shelf and What is the Influence of Climate Variability?
• What will be the Ecosystem Effects of a Warmer and More Stratified Bering Sea?
P. Stabeno, PMEL
First Phase (2007-2010): Sea Ice
Loss of Winter Sea Ice
Winter-time (MONTHS) sea ice has vanished from the Bering Sea over the last five decades (1954 - 2005)
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
+2Winter Sea Ice Cover Index (1954 – 2005)
+1
-2
-1
0
http://www.beringclimate.noaa.gov
P. Stabeno & J. Overland, PMEL
Warmer Everywhere
Arctic vs. Antarctic asymmetry
Decline in sub-polar surface salinity
Sarmiento et al. (2004) Response of ocean ecosystems to climate warming. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 18 (3). GB3003
Anticipated Long-term Change
Early Ice Retreat Late Bloom, Warm Water – Large Copepod Biomass
Late Ice Retreat Early Bloom, Cold Water – Small Copepod Biomass
February March April May June
Ice, Wind, Bloom, Copepods
G. Hunt, UW - SAFS
Graph Courtesy
of Jeff Napp
Integrated Bering Sea Ecosystem Study
AFSCNMMLPMEL
USFWSUSGS
BASIS (NPAFC)
OPPArctic Natural
& Social Sciences
NPCREPLOSI
Beyond the Bering Sea
Integrated Bering Sea Ecosystem Study
http://www.arcus.org/Bering
Lower Trophic Level SessionPoster Presentations
Mark Benfield, Nicola Hillgruber, Philippe Grosjean, Marianne Alford, Sara Arndt, Jeffrey Bacon, and Sean Keenan Semi‑automated Processing of Bering Sea Zooplankton Samples Using ZOOIMAGE Software
Clara Deal, M. Jin, J. Wang, and T. Whitledge An Ecosystem Model Study of Plankton and Nutrient Dynamics in the Bering Sea Shelf with a Focus on the Nitrogen Budget and Water Column Nitrification
Lawrence Schaufler, and Jeff NappFatty Acid Composition of Mesozooplankton From The Bering Sea
Lower Trophic Level SessionOral Presentations
George Hunt - Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST)
Kohei Mizobata - Biochemical enhancement related to mesoscale eddies in the Bering Sea Green Belt
Jeffrey Napp - Regulation of Zooplankton Standing Stock and Production in the SE Bering Sea: Top-Down v. Bottom-Up Control and Recent Climate-Related Declines in a Subarctic Ecosystem
Lisa Eisner - Variations in physical and biological oceanography and forage fish distributions during fall in the eastern Bering Sea
BEST Information Sources• Web Site: http://www.arcus.org/Bering/index.html
• Science Plan, available in Hard Copy at:Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS)
3535 College Road, Suite 101, Fairbanks, AK 99709
Phone: 907-474-1600; Fax: 907-474-1604
• Planning Group. c/o George L. Hunt, Jr.
School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
University of Washington, Seattle
Email: [email protected]