Featured research (3)

Global warming affects the Earth system in complex ways, often preventing a functional understanding of the underlying processes. Disentangling these processes between abiotic drivers and single species or entire communities is, however, essential for an in-depth understanding of climate change impacts on the ecosystem. Using a high-resolution time series on heatwaves and cold spells in an Arctic fjord system, we show that for analysing the effects of environmental stressors on biota, AI supported digital data processing based on state-of-the-art observatory technology can provide insights in habitat-community interactions which are not possible with classic expedition-based sampling methods. Furthermore, our study shows that short-term event-based anomalies in key ocean variables may have an even stronger impact on a communities structure than long-term climate change trends.
A combined year-round assessment of selected oceanographic data and a macrobiotic community assessment was performed from October 2013 to November 2014 in the littoral zone of the Kongsfjorden polar fjord system on the western coast of Svalbard (Norway). State of the art remote controlled cabled underwater observatory technology was used for daily vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and turbidity together with a stereo-optical assessment of the macrobiotic community, including fish. The results reveal a distinct seasonal cycle in total species abundances, with a significantly higher total abundance and species richness during the polar winter when no light is available underwater compared to the summer months when 24 h light is available. During the winter months, a temporally highly segmented community was observed with respect to species occurrence, with single species dominating the winter community for restricted times. In contrast, the summer community showed an overall lower total abundance as well as a significantly lower number of species. The study clearly demonstrates the high potential of cable connected remote controlled digital sampling devices, especially in remote areas, such as polar fjord systems, with harsh environmental conditions and limited accessibility. A smart combination of such new digital “sampling” methods with classic sampling procedures can provide a possibility to significantly extend the sampling time and frequency, especially in remote and difficult to access areas. This can help to provide a sufficient data density and therefore statistical power for a sound scientific analysis without increasing the invasive sampling pressure in ecologically sensitive environments.
A combined year round assessment of selected oceanographic data and a macrobiotic community assessment was performed from October 2013 to November 2014 in the littoral zone of the polar fjord systems Kongsfjorden on the west coast of Svalbard (Norway). A state of the art remote controlled cabled underwater observatory technology was used for daily vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and turbidity together with a stereo-optical assessment of the macrobiotic community, including fish. The results reveal a distinct seasonal cycle in total species abundances with a significantly higher total abundance and species richness during the polar winter when no light is available under water compared to the summer months when 24-h light is available. During the winter months, a temporally highly segmented community was observed with respect to species occurrence with single species dominating the winter community for restricted times. In contrast, the summer community showed an overall lower total abundance, as well as a significantly lower number of species. The study clearly demonstrates the high potential of cable connected remote controlled digital sampling devices, especially in remote areas, such as the polar fjord systems, with harsh environmental conditions and limited accessibility. A smart combination of such new digital “sampling” methods with classic sampling procedures can provide a possibility to significantly extend the sampling time and frequency especially in remote and difficult to access areas. This can help to provide a sufficient data density and therefore statistical power for a sound scientific analysis without increasing the invasive sampling pressure in ecologically sensitive environments.

Lab head

Philipp Fischer
Department
  • Department of Shelf Seas Systems Ecology

Members (3)

Ingeborg Bussmann
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Markus Brand
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Lisa Spotowitz
  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Max Schwanitz
Max Schwanitz
  • Not confirmed yet
Norbert Anselm
Norbert Anselm
  • Not confirmed yet
Miriam Lienkämper
Miriam Lienkämper
  • Not confirmed yet