13.07.2014 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

sediment fractions in particular sediment layers, organic carbon and nitrogen content,<br />

C/N ratio and concentration of Chl. a. Results on bacteria and chemical parameters will<br />

be compared <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> data provided by AWI.<br />

On this basis we are expecting to get a view on <strong>the</strong> relation between faunal distribution<br />

and parameters explaining food conditions at each water depth. This would allow <strong>the</strong>n to<br />

conclude about <strong>the</strong> potential role of benthic fauna in processing of organic matter<br />

reaching <strong>the</strong> bottom surface at different water depths.<br />

Acknowledgements<br />

We wish to express our thanks to Martina Kunz-Pirrung, Jens Matthiessen and Michael<br />

Pirrung for <strong>the</strong>ir help <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> box-corer. Eveline Hoste, Natalia Budaeva and Natalia<br />

Kukina are acknowledged for <strong>the</strong>ir help <strong>with</strong> sampling and washing <strong>the</strong> sediment. Our<br />

thanks are also to Karen von Juterzenka for her help and advice. <strong>The</strong> crew and all <strong>the</strong><br />

scientific staff onboard <strong>the</strong> polar research icebreaker “Polarstern” is thanked for <strong>the</strong><br />

fantastic working environment during <strong>the</strong> cruise <strong>ARK</strong>-<strong>XIX</strong>/3c.<br />

C. 11 Distribution patterns and carbon demand of epibenthic megafauna<br />

Piepenburg, D., Schmid, M.<br />

Introduction<br />

Analysing still photographs and video footage taken during <strong>the</strong> ROV dives will assess<br />

species composition, abundance and distribution patterns of megabenthic organisms<br />

occurring in <strong>the</strong> “Hausgarten”. This material will complement imaging data taken during<br />

“Polarstern” cruise <strong>ARK</strong> XVIII in 2002 and, thus, enhance <strong>the</strong> spatial coverage in <strong>the</strong><br />

inventory of habitats in <strong>the</strong> study area. In <strong>the</strong> long run, this work will contribute to an<br />

ecological mapping (“marine habitat classification”) of <strong>the</strong> entire “Hausgarten”<br />

environment.<br />

<strong>The</strong> carbon demand of benthic communities has been estimated in numerous studies by<br />

assessing <strong>the</strong> sediment oxygen uptake, i.e. by incubating sediment cores and following<br />

<strong>the</strong> decrease of dissolved oxygen in <strong>the</strong> ambient overlying water <strong>with</strong> time. <strong>The</strong>se<br />

measurements – regardless of whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are performed in situ <strong>with</strong> benthic lander or<br />

- 269 -

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!