Structure and function of contemporary food webs on Arctic shelves: An introduction

摘要

Rapid changes are being observed in the Arctic, supporting contentions that the polar ecosystems may be bellwethers of a global climatic change (ACIA, 2004). The Arctic Ocean margins, covering approximately 50 % of the total Arctic Mediterranean (in the middle of the earth, i.e., a sea engirdled by land) are the interactive transformation zones between the shelf and deep basin regions. They can act as important regions of high productivity and marine resource harvesting (e.g., the Barents and Chukchi Seas) and are the dynamic boundary for cross-slope, shelf-basin interaction, playing a major role in the ventilation of the deep basins (transport of dense, brine-enriched shelf waters and associated organic and inorganic carbon to the abyssal region). From a pan-Arctic perspective, the margins are main avenues for boundary currents and the over-all, large-scale ocean circulation to transport heat, salt, fresh water, biogeochemical properties and sediments around the Arctic Ocean. Understanding the key physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes regulating interactions on shelves, across margins and through gateways are vital for our comprehension and modelling the past, present and future of the arctic ecosystem.