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*Institute of Oceanology PAS, Sopot, Poland **University of Gdansk, Poland ***Sea Fisheries Institute, Gdynia , Poland INTRODUCTIONDense kelp forests can be found in the shallow hard-bottom sublittoral (5-30 m) in Hornsund as well as in other Spitsbergen fiords. These macroalgae communities consist mostly of big (up to 2-3 m high) kelps: Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina, Alaria esculenta, together with smaller algae as Phycodrys rubens, Desmarestia sp. Their distribution is limited by light conditions, and by occurrence and abundance of herbivorous sea-urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachensis (Fig. 1). ![]() Fig. 1. Rocky shelf densely populated by sea-urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachensis, deprived of macroalgea - Kvadehuken, Kongsfjorden. Fot. Piotr Kuklinski They are important component of ecosystem as primary producers but also provide a habitat for a number of invertebrates. They provide a substrate for sedentary colonial animals as bryozoans or a shelter for mobile invertebrates as crustaceans or molluscs (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2.Invertebrates of kelp-associated communities. Fot Piotr Kuklinski. The specific communities consisting of bryozoans, polychaetes and molluscs are associated with kelp holdfasts (Fig. 3). ![]() Fig. 3. Holdfast of Laminaria saccharina. Fot. Piotr Kuklinski The Arctic tidal glaciers, often situated in the
innermost parts of the fjords, strongly impact fiordic ecosystems.
Seasonal or continuous inflows of fresh glacial melt-water, loaded
with mineral material, influence the structure and circulation of
water masses and turbidity, primary productivity, sedimentation
processes and sediment characteristics. In the kelp forests
community the high load of mineral suspensions affects both the
algae and the animals. The high concentration of suspensions in
water increase turbidity  influence the light conditions. The
mineral particles bury the organisms, cause an increase in the
energetic expense connected with their elimination, dilutes
nutritious particles in a mass of mineral particles, or even clogs
filtering mechanisms which in turn hinders respiration and
nutrition. That is especially disturbing for filtering- suspension
feeding animals. The ice-bergs calving from the active glaciers
scour the bottom especially the shallow sublittoral in the areas
close to glacier fronts. ![]() Fig. 4. Bartek Witalis in front of Korberbreen, one of tidal glaciers in Hornsund. Fot. Tomek Kirzeniewski In our project we aim to study the distribution of algae-associated fauna in relation to the glacier-induced mineral material sedimentation. We will try to learn how the high load of mineral suspension affects the growth of macroalgae, the distribution of algae-associated species, the patterns of biodiversity and functional groups composition, the processes of succession of macrobenthic community on selected species of kelps. FIELDWORK 2003We worked in Hornsund in July 2003. We have
selected three sites, of different distance to active glaciers
outflows-different sedimentary regimes: ![]() Fig. 5. Location of sampling sites in Hornsund At each site samples were collected at two depths -
5 and 10 m. At least five algae of most common species (L.
digitata, L. saccahrina, A. esculenta, Phycodrys rubens,
Desmarestia sp.) and associated fauna were samples at each
site/depth. Each algae and associated fauna was carefully collected
and carried in a separate bag (of 1 mm mesh size). For succession
study several samples of L. saccharina and A.
esculenta were taken additionally. The environmental
measurements/sampling at each site/depth included STD profiles,
optical measurements, sampling of water samples for inorganic and
organic suspended matter concentrations as well as POC/PON
concentrations in suspended matter, current meter measurements,
sediment traps deployed on the bottom for 24 hours. ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe would like to thank the crew and especially the leader of XXVI Polish Expedition - Dr Krzysztof Migala for all help, warm welcome, home-like atmosphere experienced at Polish Station in Hornsund. Our work in Polish Station was possible thanks to Dr Piotr Glowacki and prof Jan Marcin Weslawski, which is gratefully acknowleged. We are very grateful to Mr Alfred Pietrzykowski and Mr Jan Mandat who helped us with the field work, and Mr Radomir Jaskula (University of Lodz) who spent several hours in our laboratory voluntarily helping with lab work. We would like to thank Dr Marek Zajaczkowski for his help in expedition organisation and environmental factors measurements. ![]() Fig. 6. Tomek Kirzeniewski, Piotr Kuklinski, Bartek Witalis and Marysia Wlodarska-Kowalczuk in Isbjornhamna. Fot. Marek Zajaczkowski |
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