Evaluation of phytoplankton bloom dynamics focused on sea-ice types

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14894
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 40030:Aquatic bioproduction science-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Polar Research (2023); Hokkaido University (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Waga Hisatomo 国立極地研究所, 国際極域・地球環境研究推進センター, 特任助教 (30869805)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物プランクトン / 北極海 / 海氷

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Typical phytoplankton bloom type in the Arctic has been characterized as a single bloom associated with sea-ice retreat along the ice edge (ice-edge bloom). However, recent studies have identified potential increment of phytoplankton blooms in open water (open-water bloom). This study focused on sediment-laden sea ice and sediment-free clean ice and their influences on phytoplankton bloom types in the Arctic. Our results indicate that sediment-laden ice and clean ice foster development of ice-edge bloom and open-water blooms, respectively. These findings clearly demonstrated that sea-ice type (e.g., sediment-laden or sediment-free sea ice) could be an important factor for diverse studies in the Arctic, particularly research on phytoplankton communities and, therefore, marine ecosystems where phytoplankton play an important role as a primary producer.

Free Research Field

衛星海洋学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

氷縁ブルームから開放水面ブルームへの移行を正しく評価するためには, 氷縁ブルーム・開放水面ブルーム発生プロセスを理解することが不可欠である. 本研究は, Dirty IceとClear Iceを区別し, それぞれの海氷が植物プランクトンの増殖過程に及ぼす影響に初めて着目する先駆的な取り組みである. さらに, 植物プランクトンの増殖過程に対してDirty IceとClear Iceが異なる影響を及ぼすことが明らかとなったことで, 単に海氷として扱うのではなく, Dirty IceとClear Iceを区別することの重要性を新たに提示した.