Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

A multiple corer was used to retrieve virtually undisturbed sediment samples. Vertical
gradients of nutrients, C org contents, C/N ratios, porosity and other geochemical
parameters were determined to characterize the geochemical milieu of the upper
sediment layers (see Chapter C. 2). Near-surface sediments are also sampled with
the giant box corer for sedimentological, mineralogical and micropaleontological
investigations, to assess source areas for the sediments (see Chapters C. 3 - 5).
A special project during RV “Polarstern” expedition ARK XIX/3c dealt with optical
surveys on anthropogenic debris in the “Hausgarten” area (see Chapter C. 6).
Biogenic sediment compounds were analysed to estimate activities (e.g. bacterial exoenzymatic
activity) and total biomass of the smallest sediment-inhabiting organisms
(see Chapter C. 7). Results will help to describe the eco-status of the benthic system.
The quantification of benthic organisms from bacteria to megafauna was a major goal
in biological investigations (see Chapters C. 8 - 13).
A number of in situ experiments installed in 1999 and 2001, and terminated during
ARK XIX/3c will help to identify factors controlling the high biodiversity in the deep sea
(see Chapter C. 14).
C. 1 Particle flux and phytoplankton
Bauerfeind, E.
The transfer of organic material produced in upper water column to the deep waters
and finally the sediments of the deep sea is a crucial process, as this organic matter is
the major food source for deep-sea organisms. To get insights into the amount and
composition of the sedimenting material sediment traps were installed in the area of
AWI-“Hausgarten” during FS “Polarstern” cruise ARK XVIII in 2002 (FEVI-3) and
during ARK XIX/1b in spring 2003 (FEVI-4). These traps were successfully recovered
and another mooring with 3 sediment traps was installed at 7901.00’N / 419.99’E.
Samples from two depths (260 m) and 2310 m (~ 150 m above the seafloor) could be
obtained from the mooring FEVI-3, whereas from the mooring FEVI-4 only samples
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