The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Figure 4.3.1. Stones at the sea
bottom covered by encrusting
coralline red algae and looselying,
branched forms, rhodoliths,
intermixed. A number of sea
urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis,
are apparent. (Photo:
Martin E. Blicher).
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The sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, occurs frequently in the coralline
red algal dominated area (Fig. 4.3.1) (ME Blicher, pers. comm.) and is
considered as very dominant in Kobberfjord in the assessment area (Blicher
et al. 2009).
In general, the existing knowledge of macroalgal diversity is very limited,
and macroalgal species composition, biomass, production and spatial variation
are largely unknown in the assessment area. Therefore, important or
critical shoreline intervals cannot be identified based on the available information.
In addition, at present only limited research addresses the littoral
zone and no research has been conducted on subtidal macroalgal community
interactions in the assessment area. Hence, the knowledge of biodiversity/abundance
of macroalgal associated fauna or mapping of macroalgal
/faunal interactions including grazing by, e.g., sea urchins, is lacking.
Therefore, it is suggested that investigations are preformed to provide data
and further information on:
• Diversity and spatial variation of the marine flora and associated fauna
in the littoral and sublittoral zones
• Macroalgal and associated faunal biomass as well as species specific
coverage or number
• Benthic primary production
Studies of this nature would provide robust data for mapping and modelling
the littoral and sublittoral ecology of the Davis Strait coast of Greenland.
This would optimise the advisory and assessment capability for shoreline
protection and clean-up in relation to oil activities, as well as evaluation of
subsequent rehabilitation of an oil impacted coast.