To: scollins@nsf.gov,ppenhale@nsf.gov cc: mariec@msi.ucsb.edu, ray Subject:Palmer LTER progress report 9697 -------- July 1997 ANNUAL NSF GRANT PROGRESS REPORT NSF Program: Office of Polar Programs funded Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research NSF Award Number: OPP-96-32763 PI Name: Raymond C. Smith Period Covered By This Report: 15DEC96 - 30SEP97 PI Organization: University of California, Santa Barbara Date: JULY 1997 PI Address: Raymond C. Smith, ICESS, 6th Floor, Ellison Hall, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 **** PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PROGRESS REPORT FOR ITEMS 1-2 **** Check if Continued Funding is Requested Please include the following information: 1. Brief summary of progress, including results obtained to date, and their relationship to the general goals of the grant; SEE ATTACHMENT 2. A brief summary of work to be performed during the next year of support if changed from the original proposal; an indication of any current problems or favorable or unusual developments; and any other significant information pertinent to the type of project supported by NSF or as specified by the terms and conditions of the grant; SEE ATTACHEMENT 3. Statement of funds estimated to remain unobligated -if more than 20%- at the end of the period for which NSF currently is providing support; 4. Proposed budget for the ensuing year in the NSF format, only if the original award letter did not indicate specific incremental amounts or if adjustments to a planned increment exceeding the greater of 10% or $10,000 are being requested; 5. Information about other current and pending research support of senior personnel, if changed from the previous submission; 6. A statement describing any contribution of the project to the area of education and human-resource development, if changed from any previous submission; and 7. Updated information on animal care and use, Institutional Biohazard Committee and Human Subject Certification, if changed substantially from those originally proposed and approved. I certify that to the best of my knowledge (1) the statements herein (excluding scientific hypotheses and scientific opinions) are true and complete, and (2) the text and graphics in this report as well as any accompanying publications or other documents, unless otherwise indicated, are the original work of the signatories or individuals working under their supervision. I understand that the willful provision of false information or concealing a material fact in this report or any other communication submitted to NSF is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001.) PI Signature:_____________________________________________ NSF Form 1328 (7/95) ********************************************************************** 1. Brief summary of progress & highlights of research accomplishments. **Highlights The Palmer LTER sampling strategy combines seasonal time series data from the nearshore Palmer grid and seabird observations from nesting sites near Palmer Station with annual cruises which cover a regional grid along the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). During USAP 9697 the PAL completed a sixth season at Palmer Station sampling from mid-November to late March as well as a fifth mesoscale summer time series research cruise PD97-01 from 11 January through 13 February. There was cruise participation by all field components in a cross-component survey of alongshore and on/offshore spatial variance of selected biological and physical parameters. The bottom-moored sediment trap was successfully recovered and reset near Victor Hugo Island providing an unprecedented continuous 5-yr record of particle export. A January 1997 visit to the British Rothera Station provided an opportunity for demonstration of sampling techniques to personnel in their new nearshore sampling work program and was part of continued efforts to develop a memorandum of agreement for collaborative efforts between the Palmer LTER and the British Antarctic Survey. Other group efforts during this period included publication of an Antarctic Research Series book (Ross, Hofmann, Quetin, 1996) which includes eleven chapters by Palmer LTER investigators. The book provides an important background for the on-going component and cross-component, process and synthesis work. Another funded supplemental group project is an effort aimed at improving our understanding of the paleohistory of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The workshop planned for August 97 is mentioned below in the Network Activities section; complementary field sampling was carried out by S.Emslie during the 1996/1997 season. The bibliography lists the LTER presentations made including those at the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Meeting (Feb97), the Gordon Conference on Sea Ice Ecology (Mar97), and the Gordon Research Conference on Coastal Ocean Circulation (Jun97) as well as the work of the nine Masters and PhD students in progress. Data Information (K. Baker) The Palmer data policy was rewritten as requested by NSF/OPP for the Palmer renewal proposal. Each component was assisted in meeting the data policy requirement of putting data online within two years of study completion. A concerted data effort resulted in a significant increase in the online data sets along with the metadata documents which accompany the data sets. Data is online at http://www.icess.ucsb.edu/cgi-bin/studycatalog.cgi. Hydrography data sets previously available within the two year timeframe to site PI's were placed in the public catalog. Productivity data for field seasons 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 were analyzed, quality controlled and transferred to the Palmer LTER database productivity files. Bird component additions included cruise census information as well as Palmer season adelie breeding, demography, foraging and telemetry data files. Trawl catch, krill length frequency, and spawning frequency data were already in the data base but growth data was added after extensive re-analysis for qa/qc. On January 1996 a dynamic web catalog was implemented for presentation of online data sets using a non-interactive retrieval of documents performed by cgi script via www, gopher and ftp servers. The catalog highlights study documentation, maps, and participants in addition to data sets. The Palmer LTER home page on the www was modified to highlight selected topics. Other work/improvements include: (a) Weather data synthesized for a 22 year period (Baker et al, 1996). Co-ordination was continued with ASA to investigate weather observations and upgrade strategies for maintaining quality long-term met data; (b) Selected field methods have been documented including the Bio-optical instrument profiler (Smith et al, 1996), the Palmer Station zodiac sampling (Smith et al, 1996), and the season sampling routine (Smith et al, 1996); (c) The site's data management history was documented in an EcoInforma97 presentation (Baker, 1996); (d) Cruise and season reports have been given a co-ordinated format in the form of journal articles completed for the past (Vernet and Baker, 1996; Baker et al, 1996) and present (Ross and Baker,1997; Baker et al, 1997) seasons. Remote Sensing (R. Smith) The remote sensing efforts continue to focus on sea ice and phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Investigations have a primary objective of understanding the physical & climatic controls on interannual sea ice variability and the effects of this variability (Palmer Group, 1996; Smith et al., 1995). Passive microwave derived ice concentrations have been used to study the southern ocean in general and the WAP area in particular (Stammerjohn & Smith, 1996). We have developed ice indexes (Smith, Baker & Stammerjohn, accepted) which quantitatively define the timing & magnitude of ice coverage & give a common context within which to interpret ecosystem studies (Ross and Quetin, 1996; Karl et al, 1996). Surface air temperature records from several WAP stations were examined & compared with both the sea ice record & the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) (Smith, Stammerjohn & Baker, 1996). The data show a significant warming trend in mid-winter temperatures, with an increase of 4-5 C over the past half-century (1944-1991). We also show a statistically significant anticorrelation between air temperature & sea ice extent & a significant correlation between air temperature & the SOI. Results support the hypothesis that not only do extreme SOI events affect WAP climate, but monthly SOI fluctuations may affectmonthly fluctuations in WAP air temperatures & sea ice extent as well. Because sea ice-temperature-SOI relationships appear to be strongly linked in this region, the WAP is an ideal area to study ecological responses to climate variability. The strong increasing trends in total Southern Ocean annual & seasonal ice amount concurrent with decreasing trends in open water amount within the boundary of the ice edge have been detected & documented (Stammerjohn & Smith, accepted). In anticipation of the use of SeaWiFS ocean color data (launch summer 1997), important background data and testing of models continues (Smith, Dierssen & Vernet, 1996; Dierssen & Smith, 1997). An analysis of historical CZCS ocean color imagery (Smith, Baker, Byers & Stammerjohn, 1996) estimates phytoplankton production for the Southern Ocean & the WAP region. Work with Radarsat continues (NAG5-4126). Modeling (J. Klinck & E. Hofmann) A mixed layer-ice model, based on Mellor-Yamada level 2.5 turbulence closure model and the Semtner thermodynamic ice model, is being used to diagnose heat and salt fluxes for the west Antarctic Peninsula Shelf. The model is forced by surface fluxes derived from ship and station observations. The model currently runs for multiple years and develops ice and mixed layer conditions like those observed. Further tuning and testing is necessary. This work is being done by David Smith, PhD student at ODU. ADCP observations were taken during the March-May, 1993 Palmer cruise. These data are being analyzed for the structure of tidal, mixed layer and sub-pycnocline flow. The files are just now being converted to a usable form. This work is being done by Chunyan Li (a postdoc at ODU; at no cost to the project) and by John Klinck at ODU. The hydrographic structure of the water over the west Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf have been analyzed by the group at ODU. Results are contained in several papers referenced below (Hofmann et al., 1996; Hofmann and Klinck, in press a; Hofmann and Klinck, in press b; Smith et al. in press; Klinck et al., 1997). Changes in hydrographic conditions for the four cruises between January 1993 and February 1994 have been analyzed (Klinck, accepted). The surface layer exhibits the expected heat and salt changes based on surface exchange with the atmosphere. The sub-pycnocline layers change based on exchange of water across the shelf break. There is no seasonal signal in these sub-pycnocline changes. One cause of this exchange is the meandering of the ACC along the shelf break (Klinck, in press). A circulation model of the LTER shelf region is being developed with the Harvard Ocean Prediction System. The previous model (Princeton Ocean Model) had significant problems with steep bottom topography and had to be scrapped. Work on this circulation model has been delayed due to the change and due to work on the various descriptive papers given below. A model of krill growth and development model has been developed to address questions of food limitation and over-wintering by krill of various sizes (Lascara and Hofmann, submitted). Microbiology and Carbon Flux Component (D. Karl) The microbiology and carbon flux subcomponent of the Palmer LTER measurements collectively provide a description of the large scale movements of carbon, from photosynthetic production to respiration and sediment burial. The use of autonomous moorings allows us to record events year round and to examine the role of sea ice in export production processes. A companion project (LTER Cross-site comparison: Microbial loop dynamics and regulation of bacterial physiology in subtropical and polar marine habitats, DEB #9526986; D. Karl) is designed to examine more closely the role of the microbial food web in the Palmer LTER study area and to develop a physiologically based model of the interactions between bacterioplankton and the other microorganisms. Field work has revealed several significant features: (1) documentation of substantial depletions in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), especially in areas near Palmer Basin and in Marguerite Bay, that are associated with and indicative of hypereutrophic conditions and extensive net production of particulate organic matter, (2) confirmation of our previous report of an unusual temporal decoupling of photoautotrophic and chemoheterotrophic bacterial processes which sustains both the high net CO2 depletions mentioned above, and a net accumulation of dissolved oxygen -- reasons for this decoupling are not known and (3) significant export of particulate matter from the euphotic zone, especially at the initiation of the spring bloom (Nov-Dec), as recorded by the bottom-moored sediment traps. This latter feature, strong seasonal phasing in particulate matter export, was fully anticipated as well as the large dynamic range in export from the phytoplankton bloom-supported peak export processes in summer to the low wintertime fluxes. We did not realize, at the start of this project, that these values from the LTER study region would represent global maxima and minima, respectively. Two additional interesting and unexpected results of this initial data set are: (1) the extremely low implied values for annual primary production based on the time-integrated particulate matter export and (2) the unusual, non-Redfield molar C:N:P stoichiometry of the summertime particulate matter export pulse. The elemental composition of sinking particulate matter is seasonally-phased with higher C:N, N:P and C:P ratios in spring/summer compared to winter. This implied, lower food quality of the elevated summertime export may be a result of a melt-out of detritus accumulated in the ice rather than a true reflection of the C:N:P composition of contemporaneous production. This stoichiometric uncoupling sustains a positive, net export of carbon from the euphotic zone. It is important to distinguish between gross particulate carbon export (measured by sediment traps) and net carbon export (the difference between gross export and upward advection/diffusion of dissolved inorganic carbon, DIC). A finite rate of export production is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a net flux of carbon out of the surface ocean. If the elemental ratios (C:N:P) are the same in the upward inorganic flux and in the organic downward flux, there is no net export of carbon, and no potential for sequestration of carbon dioxide. The distinct stoichiometric uncoupling of the particulate matter export each summer with much greater than Redfield (C:N and C:P) export is consistent with a net carbon export from the euphotic ZONE in the LTER study area and hence a net sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Phytoplankton (M. Vernet) The timing and the magnitude of the phytoplankton blooms is a critical feature of the Antarctic ecosystem yet poorly understood (Smith et al 1996). The field sampling designed to address this question at Palmer Station includes total particulate carbon, primary productivity experiments, photosynthetic pigments, and determination of environmental variables controlling primary production. The bloom development documented previously (Smith,Baker,Vernet 1996), with a larger spring bloom and a smaller summer bloom continued, but in 1996/1997 the spring bloom occured early in the season (mid November/beginning of December). The second pulse occurred in January. The magnitude of the annual primary production was the lowest in the last 3 years. For 120 days of growth, and based on 100 days of sampling, it was estimated at about 140 g C m-2 a-1, compared with 176 g C m-2 a-1 in 1994/95 and 236 g C m-2 a-1 in 1995/96. Primary production over the continental shelf (the LTER grid) was also the lowest in the last 3 years and followed phytoplankton biomass. The only area of high biomass accumulation was at Maguerite Bay. The distribution of primary production showed the classical pattern of onshore-offshore gradient and a weaker north-south gradient, except for the inshore stations (Palmer Station, Lamaire and Grandidier Channels, Crystal Sound and Marguerite Bay) where the gradient was reversed. There were several methodological developments with pigment and inorganic nutrient analysis. Experiments to improve methods were carried out during the season. The effect of freezing on the analysis of inorganic nutrients in seawater was investigated. Samples from standards and seawater were analyzed fresh and after freezing and defrosting at different time intervals. All nutrients, in particular silicic acid, gave higher concentrations if analyzed fresh. A comparison was also carried out between nutrient analysis of fresh samples on board ship and analysis of frozen samples after transportation in dry ice at the Analytical Facility, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara. This work was part of the REU project by Ms. Karie Sines from Florida State University. In addition, extensive analysis of the calibration for the HPLC system, in particular detection and analysis of interannual variability in the system, was accomplished at the beginning of the season. The graduate student Christine Moraes, University of Tohoku, Japan, examined diurnal variability in primary productivity over the shelf sampling at several intervals in a 24 h incubation. In addition, the undergraduate student Danielle Harvey, from University of Southern California, obtained samples over the grid to determine fluorescence and absorption properties of individual particules. Analysis will focus on phycoerythrin fluorescence by cryptomonads as opposed to chlorophyll fluorescence by chromophytes. Krill (R. Ross & L. Quetin) Data on reproductive stock and individual reproductive output of Antarctic krill from the first three summer cruises (93Jan, 94Jan, 95Jan) was compared to illustrate interannual variability in individual reproductive output. Females in 95Jan had twice the reproductive output as in either 93 or 94Jan. However, the variability in reproductive stock followed the opposite trend, with the high in 93Jan and the low in 95Jan. The opposing patterns resulted in a population reproduction index that was not as variable as either individual reproductive output or reproductive stock. The differences in individual reproductive output were correlated with the combination of two indicators of food availability in the spring & summer, spring ice extent & chlorophyll a concentrations in summer. A manuscript has been submitted. Karen Haberman, a Ph.D. student at UCSB, completed the initial steps in development of an immunochemical assay that will indicate whether Antarctic krill have been ingesting the Prymnesiophyte, Phaeocystis antarctica. This assay is a significant step in our investigation of grazing selectivity in Euphausia superba in the field. Laboratory experiments with krill grazing on Phaeocystis antarctica are also complete. Preliminary analysis of these experiments suggests that clearance rates on Phaeocystis antarctica are lower than those on the diatom Thalassiosira, regardless of Phaeocystis size. Tracy Shaw, a M.S. student at UCSB, completed analysis of the reproductive maturity stage of female krill collected from selected stations across the Peninsula grid in 93Jan, 94Jan, 95Jan, and 96Jan. Initial analysis shows that females in the early stages of the spawning cycle are concentrated in the middle and inner stations, with spawning females dominating the outer shelf and slope stations. These patterns will be discussed in terms of krill behavior, relative productivity of the different regions, and spatial and temporal variability in spawning activity. Sea Birds (W. Fraser) Field work continued to focus on the following Adelie Penguin core data. where preliminary season results suggest: Adelie Penguin breeding population size, a measure of winter survival, decreased by 18.5% relative to the 1995 season (4445 vs. 5457 pairs); per-pair breeding success decreased by 7.0% (1.47 vs. 1.58 chicks creched per pair); breeding chronology was unchanged relative fo last season; mean fledging weights increased by 3.0% (2.94 vs. 3.04 kg); crustaceans were the principal dietary component, with the krill Euphausia superba comprising 97% of the diet by weight; foraging trip durations during the brood period were generally shorter relative to last season (14.03 vs. 29.64 hours). Data related to annual recruitment and pelagic distribution have not been analyzed. The 18.5% decrease in breeding pairs agrees with the effects that a low ice year is expected to have on overwinter survival. The decrease in foraging trip durations also agrees with now well documented trends on the effects that sea ice has on krill recruitment and abundance. The decrease in breeding success of 0.11 chicks per pair may in part reflect the effects of an unprecedented, heavy infestation of ticks during the egg-laying period. Preliminary evidence suggests this infestation forced some birds to abandon nest sites. However, another factor affecting breeding success was snow deposition, which in 1996 was relatively heavy during the spring. There is mounting evidence based on our studies that environmental variables such as snow deposition, among others, may be key determinants of at least some aspects of the annual variability observed in penguin demography. This suggests that some of the variance observed in our core data, for example, in per-pair breeding success, results from variability in the terrestrial breeding environment. Indeed, we currently suspect that habitat-specific demography may be a "real" feature in Adelie Penguin population dynamics. If true, these studies will provide a direct link between marine and terrestrial ecology, and particularly to some of the dynamics that are of interest to landscape ecologists. **Brief summary of work to be performed during the next year of support. During USAP 9798 we plan to participate in two research cruises (98Jan and 98May) and the seasonal time series at Palmer Station. Efforts will continue to streamline both operations. During 98May we plan to test a hypothesis about the seasonal change in diel vertical migration behavior of larval Antarctic krill and the onset of sea ice formation. **Outreach Live From Antarctica (Oct 10, 1996 and 23, 30 January and Feb 1997) Deane Rink (field producer) and Brian Ingleman (camera man) from Live from Antarctica 2, visited UCSB to do a video tape session and interview in preparation for live broadcast from Palmer Station and R/V Polar Duke in January 1997. Many PIs from the Palmer LTER participated in the live broadcasts in late January and early February, two from the Antarctic (Robin Ross and Bill Fraser) and three in middle school classrooms stateside (Langdon Quetin, Ray Smith and Dave Karl). Several of the PIs also participated extensively in the writing and editing of the information and activities for the teachers' handbook for the series, and answered email questions from students for several months after the broadcast. Jane Stevens, a journalist with the New York Times Science Hour came to UCSB on April 7, 1997 to interview Robin Ross and Langdon Quetin about the interaction between Antarctic krill and sea ice, and to video tape live krill brought back from Antarctica by this research group. The video segment will be part of hour long program on "Ice" broadcast in summer 1997. Congressional testimony on Global Warming Effects on Antarctic Ecosystems was given in June 1997 by Bill Fraser. A talk by the each year's chief scientist has become traditional as an outreach effort by the LTER to the staff at Palmer Station. Robin Ross gave this year's presentation at Palmer Station at the beginning of January 1997. In addition, a series of eight separate talks were given at elementary schools in Santa Barbara, San Diego and Poway as well as to SD Girl Scout Groups by Palmer LTER personnel focusing on Antarctic work. **LTER Cross Site and Network Level Activities Ray Smith, as lead Palmer PI and a member of the LTER Executive Committee, attends all the LTER coordinating Committee and Executive Meetings. Maria Vernet participated in the LTER BioDiversity Workshop at NCEAS in 1996 presenting an analysis of relationship between productivity and diversity using experimental results. Contribution to the LTER climate report was made and work continues from within the data managements components. The yearly fall LTER Coordinating Committee Meeting, 26-27 October, will be held in Santa Barbara this year with the sub theme of "Climate Change and Ecological Response". Based upon previous interest in this theme throughout the Network, we expect that this CC meeting may lead to a subsequent workshop followed by an overview article and the opportunity to develop a volume in the Network Synthesis LTER series. The topic chosen for the meeting hosted at UCSB relates closely to ongoing Palmer work and also provides an opportunity to participate in cross-site collaborative efforts. The meeting with an oceanographic field trip planned provides an opportunity to present our site's work to the LTER groups. There are several meetings and workshops this year co-ordinated by the Palmer LTER and to be held in Santa Barbara. An archaeoclimatology group meeting, 17-20 August 1997, will use of site-specific meteorological data for input to an archaeoclimatology model (AM) and comparison of results with paleo-records. Discussions will include alternative models of climate reconstruction and how the LTER's might test such models. A paleohistory Workshop, 20-23 August 1997 was funded as a Network supplement. Objectives include review & evaluation of the late Quaternary climate history of the WAP, presentation & evaluation of the most recent paleo data, presentation of results of penguin rookerie excavations, review of historical meteorological, sea ice & sediment trap records, and evaluation of these paleoecological records in the context of various hypothesis on climate variability and ecosystem responses to this variability. The Palmer LTER data manager continued as an active member in Network activities as a member of the LTER Data Manager DataTask Group as well as by attending the yearly data manager meeting at Archbold Biological Station. Updates were made to the yearly Site Capability Survey and contributions made to the year's data manager report. As a member of the Data Management Climate Committee, Palmer is participating in an effort to create a prototype to harvest site climate data as groundwork for a broader effort planned for the fall which co-ordinates with LTER meteorologists and ecologists. The LTER data managers co-ordinated a strong showing at the EcoInforma97 Symposium including a summary of network software use (Porter, Nottrott and Baker, 1996). As part of the Antarctic community Palmer LTER scientists participate on the McMurdo Area User's Committee Meeting, the Antarctic Research Vessel Committee, the Palmer Area User's Committee Meeting, the McMurdo Science On-Line Antarctica (SOLA) Planning Workshop as well as activities associated with CCAMLR, International Southern Ocean Globec, the Joint Global Ocean Flux Committee, and the Gordon Conferences on ice. 2. A brief summary of work to be performed during the next year of support if changed from the original proposal; an indication of any current problems or favorable or unusual developments; and any other significant information pertinent to the type of project supported by NSF or as specified by the terms and conditions of the grant; (a) As of early 1996 Dr. Wayne Trivelpiece was no longer part of the renewal effort as is reflected in the revised budget and addendum for the proposal renewal. He was given $40K supplement for the fiscal year Oct96-Sep97 to finish work in progress. (b) The shifting of resources to meet the 2 year data policy requirement impacted publication efforts. (c) The Palmer field station effort has been limited to 6 personnel on station during the season which brought about a modification of the field program during the 95/96 season and will bring further reductions in the number and frequency of measurements for the 96/97 season. (d) Plans include shifting process study efforts from the January97 cruise to the planned May/Jun cruise in order to be able to focus investigation during a critical ice time frame. ******************************************************************* LTER BIBLIOGRAPHY LIST LTER Journal Articles BOUCHER, N. P., AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1996. Spectral modeling of UV inhibition of in situ Antarctic primary produc- tion using a field derived biological weighting func- tion. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 64(3):407-418. FRASER, W. R., AND D. L. PATTERSON. 1996 . Human disturbance and long-term changes in Adelie penguin populations: A natural experiment at Palmer Station, Antarctic Penin- sula. p. xx-xx. In B. BATTAGLIA, J. VALENCIA, and D. W. H. WALTON [eds.], Antarctic Communities: Species, Structure and Survival. Cambridge University Press. Proceedings of the VI SCAR Biology Symposium. FRAZER, T. K. 1996. Stable isotope composition (delta-C-13 and delta-N-15) of larval krill, Euphausia superba, and two of its potential food sources in winter. Journal of Plankton Research 18(8):1413-1426. FRAZER, T. K., L. B. QUETIN, AND R. M. ROSS. 1997. Abundance and distribution of larval krill, Euphausia superba, associated with annual sea ice in winter. p. 107-111. In B. BATTAGLIA, J. VALENCIA, and D. W. H. WALTON [eds.], Antarctic Communities: Species, Structure and Survival. Cambridge University Press. Proceedings of the VI SCOR:SCAR Biology Symposium, Venice, May '94. KLINCK, J. M. 1997. Heat and salt changes on the continental shelf west of the Antarctic Peninsula between January 1993 and 1994 (accepted pending revisions). p. xx-xx. Journal of Geophysical Research. LETELIER, R. M., M. R. ABBOTT, AND D. M. KARL. 1997. Chloro- phyll natural fluorescence response to upwelling events in the Southern Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters 24(4):409-412. MOLINE, M. A., AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1996. Palmer LTER 1991- 1994: Long-term monitoring and analyses of physical factors regulating variability in coastal Antarctic phytoplankton biomass, in situ productivity and taxo- nomic composition over subseasonal, seasonal and interannual time scales phytoplankton dynamics. Marine Ecology - Progress Series 145(1-3):143-160. MOLINE, M. A., AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1997. High-resolution time-series data for '91/'92 primary production and related parameters at a Palmer LTER coastal site: implications for modeling carbon fixation in the Souther Ocean. Polar Biology 17:39-53. MOYER, C. L., J. M. TIEDJE, F. C. DOBBS, AND D. M. KARL. 1996. A computer-simulated restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of bacterial small-subunit rRNA genes: Efficacy of selected tetrameric restriction enzymes for studies of microbial diversity in nature. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 62(7):2501-2507. ROSS, R. M., L. B. QUETIN, AND K. L. HABERMAN. 1997. Interannual and seasonal variability in short-term grazing impact of Euphausia superba in nearshore and offshore waters west of the Antarctic Peninsula (accepted). Journal of Marine Systems. SMITH, R. C., D. MENZIES, AND C. R. BOOTH. 1996. Oceano- graphic bio-optical profiling system II . SPIE13 2963:777-789. 22-25 October 1996, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. SMITH, R. C., K. S. BAKER, AND S. E. STAMMERJOHN. 1997. Exploring sea ice indexes relevant to polar ecosystem studies (accepted). BioScience. SMITH, R. C., K. S. BAKER, AND M. VERNET. 1997. Seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton biomass west of the Antarctic Peninsula (accepted). Journal of Marine Systems. SMITH, R. C., K. S. BAKER, M. L. BYERS, AND S. E. STAMMER- JOHN. 1997. Primary Productivity of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Area and the Southern Ocean (accepted). Journal of Marine Systems. SMITH, D. A., E. E. HOFMANN, C. M. LASCARA, AND J. M. KLINCK. 1997. Hydrography and circulation of the west Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf (in press). Deep-Sea Research xx:xx-xx. STAMMERJOHN, S. E., AND R. C. SMITH. 1997. Opposing southern ocean climate regimes as revealed by trends in regional sea ice coverage (in press). Climate Change. LTER Books FRASER, W., AND W. TRIVELPIECE. 1996. Factors controlling the distribution of seabirds: winter-summer hetero- geneity in the distribution of Adelie penguin popula- tions . p. 257-272. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. HOFMANN, E. E., AND C. M. LASCARA. 1996. A review of predic- tive modeling for coastal marine ecosystem (in press). In C. N. K. MOOERS [ed.], Coastal Ocean Prediction. CRC Press. HOFMANN, E. E., J. M. KLINCK, C. M. LASCARA, AND D. SMITH. 1996 . Water mass distribution and circulation West of the Antarctic Peninsula and including Bransfield Strait. p. 61-80. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. HOFMANN, E. E., AND J. M. KLINCK. 1997. Hydrography and cir- culation of Antarctic continental shelves: 150E east- ward to the Greenwich Meridian (in press). In A. R. ROBINSON, and K. H. BRINK [eds.], The Sea, The Global Coastal Ocean, Regional Studies and Synthesis. Vol. 11. HOFMANN, E. E., AND J. M. KLINCK. 1997. Seasonal variability of the hydrography and circulation of the west Antarc- tic Peninsula continental shelf (in press). p. xx-xx. In S. S. JACOBS [ed.], Antarctic Continental Shelf Oceanography. Vol. xx. AGU Antarctic Research Series. KARL, D., J. R. CHRISTIAN, J. E. DORE, AND R. M. LETELIER. 1996. Microbiological oceanography in the region west of the Antarctic Peninsula: Microbial dynamics, nitro- gen cycle and carbon flux. p. 303-332. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. KARL, D. M., AND F. C. DOBBS. 1997. Molecular approaches to microbial biomass estimation in the sea (in press). In K. E. COOKSEY [ed.], Molecular Approaches to the Study of the Ocean. KARL, D. M. 1997. Oceanic carbon cycle and global environ- mental change: A microbiological perspective (in press). In M. T. MARTINS [ed.], Global Aspects of Microbial Ecology. QUETIN, L. B., R. M. ROSS, T. K. FRAZER, AND K. L. HABERMAN. 1996. Factors affecting distribution and abundance of zooplankton, with an emphasis on Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. p. 357-371. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Eco- logical Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. ROSS, R. M., L. B. QUETIN, AND C. LASCARA. 1996. Distribu- tion of Antarctic krill and dominant zooplankton west of the Antarctic Peninsula. p. 199-217. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. SMITH, R. C., S. STAMMERJOHN, AND K. S. BAKER. 1996. Surface air temperature variations in the western Antarctic peninsula region. p. 105-121. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOF- MANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecologi- cal Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. SMITH, R. C., H. DIERSSEN, AND M. VERNET. 1996. Phytoplank- ton biomass and productivity to the west of the Antarc- tic peninsula. p. 333-356. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOF- MANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecologi- cal Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. STAMMERJOHN, S., AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Spatial and temporal variability of western Antarctic peninsula sea ice coverage . p. 81-104. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. THE PALMER LTER GROUP 1996. The Western Antarctic Peninsula Region: Summary of Environmental and Ecological Processes. p. 437-448. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. TRIVELPIECE, W., AND W. FRASER. 1996. The breeding biology and distribution of Adelie penguins: adaptations to environmental variability. p. 273-285. In R. M. ROSS, E. E. HOFMANN, and L. B. QUETIN [eds.], Foundations for Ecological Research West of the Antarctic Peninsula. AGU Antarctic Research Series, Vol. 70. LTER Thesis LASCARA, C. 1996. Seasonal and mesoscale variability in the distribution of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ph.D. Thesis, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. 167 p. Palmer LTER Contribution #118. MOLINE, M. 1996. Temporal dynamics and regulation of coastal Antarctic phytoplankton communities: Spring/Summer 1991-1994. PhD Thesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA . 356 p. LTER Non-refereed Articles BAKER, K. S. 1996. Development of Palmer Long-Term Ecologi- cal Research Information Management. p. 725-730. Proceedings of Eco-Informa Workshop, Global Networks for Environmental Information, 4-7 November 1996, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Vol. 11. Environmental Research Insti- tute of Michigan (ERIM), Ann Arbor, MI. BAKER, K. S. 1996. Palmer LTER: Palmer station air tempera- ture 1974 to 1996 (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. BAKER, K. S., W. A. KOZLOWSKI, M. VERNET, J. L. JONES, L. B. QUETIN, R. M. ROSS, R. C. SMITH, AND W. R. FRASER. 1996. Palmer LTER: Annual season October 1995-March 1996 (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. DIERSSEN, H. M., AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Estimation of irra- diance just below the air-water interface. SPIE13 2963:204-209. 22-25 October 1996, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. HOFMANN, E. E., C. M. LASCARA, J. M. KLINCK, AND D. A. SMITH. 1996. Palmer LTER: Interannual variability in near-surface hydrography (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. KLINCK, J. M., AND D. A. SMITH. 1996. Palmer LTER: Com- parison of meteorological observations from R/V N.B. Palmer to those at Palmer station (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. KLINCK, J. M. 1996. Palmer LTER: Temporal variability in the location of the ACC along the west Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. LASCARA, C. M. 1996. Palmer LTER: Seasonal comparisons of spatially-averaged estimates of krill abundance (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. MOLINE, M. A., B. B. PREZELIN, AND H. CLAUSTRE. 1996. Palmer LTER: Light-saturated primary production in Antarctic coastal waters (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. PATTERSON, K., P. L. HANDLEY, AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Palmer LTER: Open water PUV albedo measurements (submitted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. PORTER, J. H., R. W. NOTTROTT, AND K. S. BAKER. 1996. Tools for managing ecological data. p. 87-92. Proceedings of the Eco-Informa Workshop, Global Networks for Environ- mental Information, 4-7 November '96, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Vol. 10. Environmental Research Institute of Michi- gan (ERIM), Ann Arbor, MI. SMITH, R. C., L. B. QUETIN, J. L. JONES, D. M. MENZIES, AND T. NEWBERGER. 1996. Palmer LTER: Small boat design for water column sampling (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. SMITH, R. C., J. L. JONES, L. B. QUETIN, R. M. ROSS, K. S. BAKER, W. A. KOZLOWSKI, M. VERNET, AND W. R. FRASER. 1996. Palmer LTER: Annual season sampling on station (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. VERNET, M., W. KOZLOWSKI, J. ROSENFIELD, AND A. GREAVES. 1996. Palmer LTER: Temporal variability in primary pro- duction in Arthur Harbor during the 1995/1996 growth season (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. VERNET, M., AND K. S. BAKER. 1996. Palmer LTER: Annual Janu- ary Cruise for 1996 (PD96-1) (accepted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. LTER Submitted CARRILLO, C., AND D. M. KARL. 1997. A seasonal model for the air-sea flux of carbon dioxide in antarctic coastal waters (submitted). Journal of Geophysical Research. CHRISTIAN, J. R., AND D. M. KARL. 1996. Specificity and regulation of Antarctic bacterioplankton aminopeptidase (submitted). Applied and Environmental Microbiology. CHRISTIAN, J. R., AND D. M. KARL. 1997. Ectoaminopeptidase specificity and regulation in Antarctic pelagic micro- bial communities (submitted). Aquatic Microbial Ecol- ogy. CLAUSTRE, H., M. A. MOLINE, AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1996. Sources of Variability in the Light Utilization Index for Antarctic Coastal Waters (submitted). Journal of Geophysical Research x:xx-xx. FRASER, W. R. 1996. Kelp Gull use of the Antarctic Limpet Nacella concinna, I: Foraging behaviour (submitted). Journal of Animal Ecology. FRASER, W. R., D. G. AINLEY, M. CULVER, AND D. L. PATTERSON. 1996. Breeding population trends in Blue-eyed Shags and Adelie Penguins before and after the Bahia Paraiso oil spill (submitted). Marine Pollution Bulletin. FRASER, W. R., AND D. L. PATTERSON. 1996. The effects of environmental variability on the relationship between fledging weight and recruitment in Adelie Penguins (submitted). Polar Biology. LASCARA, C. M., AND E. E. HOFMANN. 1997. Modeling the growth dynamics of Antarctic krill (submitted). Marine Ecology - Progress Series. LASCARA, C. M., E. E. HOFMANN, R. M. ROSS, AND L. B. QUETIN. 1997. Seasonal variability in the distribution of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, west of the Antarc- tic Peninsula (submitted). Deep-Sea Research. LOEB, V., V. SIEGEL, O. HOLM-HANSEN, R. HEWITT, W. FRASER, W. TRIVELPIECE, AND S. TRIVELPIECE. 1996. Large varia- bility in krill and salp dominance in the Antarctic marine ecosystem: Implications for the food web . Nature. (submitted). PATTERSON, D. L., E. J. HOLM, K. M. CARNEY, AND W. R. FRASER. 1996. Human disturbance and tourism at Palmer Station: preliminary findings (submitted). Antarctic Journal of the United States. ROSS, R. M., AND L. B. QUETIN. 1997. Interannual variation in reproduction in antarctic krill west of the Antarctic Peninsula (submitted). Marine Biology. SCHOFIELD, O., M. MOLINE, AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1996. Varia- bility of the maximum quantum yield for carbon fixation in Antarctic coastal waters (submitted). Limnology and Oceanography. TRIVELPIECE, W., S. TRIVELPIECE, V. LOEB, AND V. SIEGEL. 1996. Impacts of global warming on krill and Adelie penguin populations in the Antarctic marine ecosystem . Nature. (submitted). VERNET, M., AND P. MATRAI. 1996. Production of particulate and extracellular carbon at the ice edge in the Barents Sea . Journal of Geophysical Research. submitted. LTER In Preparation BAKER, K. S., W. A. KOZLOWSKI, AND M. VERNET. 1997. Palmer LTER: Annual season October 1995-March 1996 (inprep). Antarctic Journal of the United States. CARLSON, J. Long-term trends in Adelie Penguin popula- tions in the vicinity of Palmer Station, Antarctic Peninsula: The effects of variability in the breeding habitat (in progress). PhD Thesis, Montana State University, Bozman, MN. xx p. DIERSSEN, H. Remote sensing of pigment concentrations and primary productivity in the West Antarctic Penin- sula region (in progress). PhD Thesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. xx p. FRASER, W. R., AND ETAL. 1997. The 1996-1997 AMLR report. (in preparation). HABERMAN, K. Grazing by the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba: Effects of phytoplankton type & food quality on ingestion, assimilation and growth of krill (in pro- gress). PhD Thesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. xx p. HANDLEY, P. Annual and seasonal variability in hydrog- raphy nearshore Palmer Station, Antarctica (in pro- gress). Master Thesis. Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA.. xx p. KARNOVSKY, N. The fish component of Pygoscelid penguin diets: Implications for Resource Partitioning & ecosys- tem monitoring. PhD Thesis, Montana State University, Bozman, MN. xx p. MADER, T. The impacts of Leopard Seal predation on Pygoscelid penguins. Master thesis. Montana State University, Bozman, MN. xx p. PATTERSON, D. The effects of human activity on the biology of the Adelie penguin on Torgersen Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Master thesis. Montana State University, Bozman, MN. xx p. ROSS, R., AND K. S. BAKER. 1997. Palmer LTER: Annual January Cruise for 1997 (PD97-1) (inprep). Antarctic Journal of the United States. SHAW, C. Interannual variations in the ovarian cycle of Euphausia superba west of the Antarctic Peninsula (in progress). PhD Thesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. xx p. SMITH, D. Hydrography and circulation on the West Antarctic Peninsula region (in progress). Ph.D. Thesis, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. xx p. LTER Reports SMITH, R. C., AND K. S. BAKER. 1996. The climate of Palmer Station, Antarctica (LTER REPORT). In D. GREENLAND [ed.], The climates of the Long-Term Ecological Research Sites. LTER Abstracts BAKER, K. S. 1996. Development of Palmer Long-Term Ecologi- cal Research Information Management. p. 725-730. Proceedings of Eco-Informa Workshop, Global Networks for Environmental Information, 4-7 November 1996, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Vol. 11. Environmental Research Insti- tute of Michigan (ERIM), Ann Arbor, MI. DIERSSEN, H. M., AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Estimation of irra- diance just below the air-water interface. SPIE13 2963:204-209. 22-25 October 1996, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. DIERSSEN, H. M., AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Modeling of light- saturated photosynthesis in Antarctic coastal waters. EOS 76(3):. Ocean Sciences Meeting 12-16Feb96, San Diego, Poster. KARL, D. M., T. HOULIHAN, R. C. SMITH, AND S. STAMMERJOHN. 1997. Seasonal and interannual variability in particu- late matter export in the neritic ecosystem west of the Antarctic Peninsular: observations and mechanisms. Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. KARNOVSKY, N. J., W. R. FRASER, D. PATTERSON, AND W. TRIVEL- PIECE. 1997. Where do adelie chicks go?. Poster presen- tation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. KLINCK, J. M., E. E. HOFMANN, D. A. SMITH, AND C. M. LAS- CARA. 1997. Hydrography, heat and salt budgets on the West Antarctic Peninsula Continental Shelf. Poster presented at the Gordon Research Conference on coastal ocean circulation, Colby-Smith College, NH, 15-20 June '97. MOLINE, M. A., AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1997. Southern Ocean: fraction of total water column biomass and primary pro- ductivity within the upper optical attenuation length. ASLO, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 10-14 February. PORTER, J. H., R. W. NOTTROTT, AND K. S. BAKER. 1996. Tools for managing ecological data. p. 87-92. Proceedings of the Eco-Informa Workshop, Global Networks for Environ- mental Information, 4-7 November '96, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Vol. 10. Environmental Research Institute of Michi- gan (ERIM), Ann Arbor, MI. PREZELIN, B. B., C. MENGELT, M. MOLINE, AND E. HOFMANN. 1997. Preliminary findings on the mesoscale relationship(s) between mixed layer depth, proxy meas- ures of vertical nutrient flux and phytoplankton com- munity composition in the Southern Ocean waters west of Palmer Peninsula, Antarctica. American Society of Lim- nology and Oceanography. ASLO, Aquatic Sciences Meet- ing, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 10-14 February. QUETIN, L. B., T. K. FRAZER, R. M. ROSS, AND R. C. SMITH. 1997. Palmer Long-Term ecological research: Abundance and distribution of larval krill, euphausia superba, in relation to ice surface orientation and food quantity and quality. Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. QUETIN, L. B., R. M. ROSS, AND H. COE. 1997. Effects of ultraviolet radiation on the behavior of krill larvae (euphausia superba). American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. ASLO, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 10-14 February. ROSS, R. M., AND L. B. QUETIN. 1997. Palmer Long-Term eco- logical research: Interannual variation in recruitment processes in Antarctic krill in relation to seasonal sea ice dynamics. Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. SCHOFIELD, O., M. A. MOLINE, AND B. B. PREZELIN. 1996. Vari- ability in the quantum yields for photosynthetic activity in coastal Antarctic phytoplankton and impact on bio-optical productivity models. Ocean Sciences Meeting 12-16Feb96, San Diego. SMITH, D. A., E. E. HOFMANN, J. M. KLINCK, C. M. LASCARA, AND R. C. SMITH. 1996. Palmer LTER: Distribution of circumpolar deep water west of the Antarctic Peninsula. EOS 76(3):. Ocean Sciences Meeting 12-16Feb96, San Diego, Poster. SMITH, R. C. 1996. Seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton biomass and primary production west of the Antarctic peninsula. EOS 76(3):. Ocean Sciences Meeting 12-16Feb96, San Diego, Oral Presentation. SMITH, R. C. 1997. Palmer Long-Term ecological research: Antarctic Marine Ecosystem, a sea ice dominated system. Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. STAMMERJOHN, S., AND R. C. SMITH. 1997. Palmer Long-Term ecological research: Sea ice indexes relevant to polar marine ecosystems. Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Sea Ice Ecology, in Ventura, California, 2-7 March. VERNET, M., K. S. BAKER, H. DIERSSEN, S. STAMMERJOHN, AND R. C. SMITH. 1997. Temporal and spatial variability of primary production in the western Antarctic Peninsula during 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 growth seasons. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. ASLO, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 10-14 February. LTER Talks FRASER, W. R. 1997. Report to US global climate change research program (invited). Washington, DC. ROSS, R. M., AND L. B. QUETIN. 1997. Family lecture program: The Arctic and the Antarctic. La Patera Elementary School, Santa Barbara, CA. ROSS, R. R. 1997. Antarctic Krill: Keystone species and fishery in the Southern Ocean. Santa Barbara, CA. Talk given at University of California, Santa Barbara for School of Environmental Science & Management, 7 July '97. VERNET, M. 1996. Analysis of relationship between produc- tivity and diversity using experimental results from the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research Program. LTER BioDiversity Workshop, NCEAS, 10-20 September, Univer- sity of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. -------- Ray Smith Institute for Computational Earth System Science (ICESS) University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106 email: ray@icess.ucsb.edu phone: (805) 893-4709 fax: (805) 893-2578