1. Increased irradiance reduces food quality of sea ice algae.
- Author
-
Leu, E., Wiktor, J., Søreide, J. E., Berge, J., and Falk-Petersen, S.
- Subjects
SEA ice ,ALGAE ecology ,ALGAL growth ,UNSATURATED fatty acids ,LIGHT ,BIOCHEMICAL variation ,HERBIVORES ,IRRADIATION ,ALGAE as food ,FOOD quality - Abstract
The article presents a study which aims to demonstrate the variation of ice algal fatty acid composition during the spring productive period and the environmental factors that steer the changes, with particular focus on light. It traces the fatty acid composition of ice algae in Arctic fjord Rijpfjorden in the Nordaustlandet in Svalbard, Norway from early to late-bloom stage. It states that the decrease of Arctic sea ice affects the biochemical composition of sea ice algae which serves as an essential-quality food source for herbivores. It mentions that irradiance was negatively correlated to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), while light conditions can determine the nutritional quality of sea ice algae. It concludes that high irradiances affect sea ice algal food quality.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF