Seasonal sea ice cover as principal driver of spatial and temporal variation in depth extension and annual production of kelp in Greenland.

ABSTRACT: We studied the depth distribution and production of kelp along the Greenland coast spanning Arctic to sub-Arctic conditions from 78 ºN to 64 ºN. This covers a wide range of sea ice conditions and water temperatures, with those presently realized in the south likely to move northwards in a warmer future. Kelp forests occurred along the entire latitudinal range, and their depth extension and production increased southwards presumably in response to longer annual ice-free periods and higher water temperature. The depth limit of 10% kelp cover was 9-14 m at the northernmost sites (77-78 ºN) with only 94-133 ice-free days per year, but extended to depths of 21-33 m further south (73 ºN-64 ºN) where >160 days per year were ice-free, and annual production of Saccharina longicruris and S. latissim

SUBMITTER: Krause-Jensen D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3597251 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature