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Vertical Variability of Primary Production and Features of the Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum in the Laptev Sea in August–September, 2015, 2017, and 2018

  • MARINE BIOLOGY
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Abstract

The vertical distribution of phytoplankton primary production (PP) and chlorophyll a (Chl) was studied based on the data carried out in August–September 2015, 2017, and 2018. The PP maximum was located at the surface or within the 0–5 m subsurface layer. The subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) was recorded at 39% stations on the outer shelf and in the vicinity of the continental slope. The SCM was not detected along the northward transect (130° E) from the Lena River delta. As in other areas of the World Ocean, the SCM was located below the upper mixed layer (UML), in the nitracline, near the boundary of the euphotic zone (1% of photosynthetically active radiation). Generally, the SCM was not accompanied by an additional PP maximum. The Chl concentration at the SCM did not exceed 1 mg m–3. PP produced within the UML and SCM contributed 72 and 23%, respectively, to the integrated primary production (IPP) of the water column. Our results suggest that the influence of the SCM on IPP was insufficient due to low Chl concentration and PP colimitation by the low light and temperature at these depths.

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Funding

This work was performed according to the State assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation (no. 0149-2019-0008). Collection of phytoplankton data was supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research, project no. 18-05-60069. Collection of hydrophysical data was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-05-60302.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    A. B. Demidov, V. I. Gagarin, V. A. Artemiev, E. G. Arashkevich, P. N. Makkaveev, S. A. Shchuka, A. N. Khrapko & A. V. Grigoriev

  2. Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    O. V. Vorobieva & I. V. Konyukhov

  3. Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Moscow, Russia

    O. V. Vorobieva

  4. Southern Branch of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gelendjik, Russia

    A. V. Fedorov

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  1. A. B. Demidov
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  2. V. I. Gagarin
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  3. V. A. Artemiev
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  4. E. G. Arashkevich
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  5. P. N. Makkaveev
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  8. A. V. Grigoriev
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  9. O. V. Vorobieva
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  11. A. V. Fedorov
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Correspondence to A. B. Demidov.

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Translated by N. Ruban

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Demidov, A.B., Gagarin, V.I., Artemiev, V.A. et al. Vertical Variability of Primary Production and Features of the Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum in the Laptev Sea in August–September, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Oceanology 60, 189–204 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437020010063

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