American Zoologist · 1994 · 216 citations · 4 references
Natural SciencesMarine BiologyOceanographyMarine EcologyPhysical OceanographyPolar OceanographyArctic OceanographyIce-ocean InteractionsPolar EcologyPolar Marine EcologyPolar Shelf SeasSea Ice SeasonalityAntarctic EcosystemsMarginal Ice ZonePack IcePolar BiogeographyPolar Marine BiogeographyPolar Plankton BiogeographyPolar Plankton EcologyResearch In Polar Seas
Polar marine systems share cold temperatures but differ markedly: the Arctic has broad shallow shelves, seasonal ice, and freshwater input, while the Antarctic has larger surface area, deep narrow shelves, stable conditions, and greater pack ice seasonality and vertical mixing. This paper reviews polar marine biology, aiming to integrate recent oceanographic studies with geological history to holistically understand biological processes. The authors compile recent oceanographic studies and geological history of polar habitats to provide a holistic perspective. Polar primary productivity is strongly pulsed, with zooplankton lagging behind, though many exceptions exist. SYNOPSIS.
SYNOPSIS. This paper offers a sweeping but very superficial review of the marine biology of polar seas. The marine systems in the Arctic and Antarctic have in common polar positions and cold temperatures, otherwise they are strikingly different. The Arctic has broad shallow continental shelves with seasonally fluctuating physical conditions and a massive fresh water impact in the northern coastal zones. However, it has a low seasonality of pack ice and little vertical mixing. In contrast, the Antarctic has over twice the oceanic surface area, deep narrow shelves, and, except for ice cover, a relatively stable physical environment with very little terrestrial input. The Antarctic has great pack ice seasonality and much vertical mixing. Primary productivity in the polar areas tends to be strongly pulsed with the zooplankton lagging behind; however there are many exceptions to such generalizations. Most recent research has focused on specific patterns and processes resulting in biological hot spots such as predictable leads in the ice, polynyas, oceanographic fronts, areas of intense mixing, and the marginal ice zone. This review attempts to weave these recent oceanographic studies into the geological history of each habitat in an effort to develop a holistic understanding of the biological processes
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