Sea-ice decline could keep zooplankton deeper for longer

Hauke Flores (), Gaëlle Veyssière, Giulia Castellani, Jeremy Wilkinson, Mario Hoppmann, Michael Karcher, Lovro Valcic, Astrid Cornils, Maxime Geoffroy, Marcel Nicolaus, Barbara Niehoff, Pierre Priou, Katrin Schmidt and Julienne Stroeve
Additional contact information
Hauke Flores: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Gaëlle Veyssière: British Antarctic Survey
Giulia Castellani: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Jeremy Wilkinson: British Antarctic Survey
Mario Hoppmann: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Michael Karcher: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Lovro Valcic: Bruncin Observation Systems
Astrid Cornils: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Maxime Geoffroy: Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Marcel Nicolaus: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Barbara Niehoff: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Pierre Priou: Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Katrin Schmidt: University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Julienne Stroeve: University College London, Earth Sciences Department

Nature Climate Change, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1122-1130

Abstract: Abstract As Arctic sea ice deteriorates, more light enters the ocean, causing largely unknown effects on the ecosystem. Using an autonomous biophysical observatory, we recorded zooplankton vertical distribution under Arctic sea ice from dusk to dawn of the polar night. Here we show that zooplankton ascend into the under-ice habitat during autumn twilight, following an isolume of 2.4 × 10−4 W m−2. We applied this trigger isolume to CMIP6 model outputs accounting for incoming radiation after sunset and before sunrise of the polar night. The models project that, in about three decades, the total time spent by zooplankton in the under-ice habitat could be reduced by up to one month, depending on geographic region. This will impact zooplankton winter survival, the Arctic foodweb, and carbon and nutrient fluxes. These findings highlight the importance of biological processes during the twilight periods for predicting change in high-latitude ecosystems.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01779-1

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