TITLE:   Palmer LTER: Variability in primary production in the Western
	 Antarctic Peninsula
AUTHORS: Maria Vernet, Wendy Kozlowski and Karie Sines
DATE:    2-4 August 2000
PLACE:   LTER All Scientists Meeting 2000, Long-Term Ecological Research:
	 Unifying Principles & Global Applications, Snowbird, Utah
         
	 University of California, Santa Diego
	 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA. 92093-0218
	 Poster - Organic Matter Dynamics/Net Primary Production (W86)

ABSTRACT
	The Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research program (LTER) 
is testing the hypothesis that the magnitude and distribution in carbon 
uptake by phytoplankton is linked to the extent of ice cover during the 
preceding winter months.  The temporal variability is studied at a 
coastal station on Anvers Island during the growth season (November to 
April) to determine the extent and timing of productivity in the area. 
Two to three major pulses in primary production occur in late austral 
spring as well as later in the summer. Yearly production at Anvers 
Island is estimated at 54.5 to 367 g C m-2 yr-1 in 1991-2000.  Similarly, 
average primary production over the continental shelf in January 
showed a factor of 8 difference in the 9 seasons studied.  Yearly primary 
production is correlated to sea ice area coverage in the region during the 
previous winter.  Ultraviolet radiation decreases overall primary 
production, this decrease also shows an inter-annual variability.  This 
effect is enhanced by the synergistic effect of low water temperatures (-
1.5o C to 2.6o C) that decreases repair mechanisms.