Posted: Mon, Jan 6, 1992 11:30 PM EST Msg: HGJC-5063-9054 From: PALMER.STA To: PALMER.SCIENCE Subj: PSDN-2312 SCIENCE SITREP SEND PLM156.JAN MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",ASAHQ PSDN-2312 SCIENCE SITREP R 070307Z JAN 92 FROM: ROBIN ROSS P A L M E R S T A T I O N A N T A R C T I C A TELEMAIL::PALMER.STA PHONE/FAX: 011-874-150-3157 SPAN::PALMER@ATSVAX.SPAN TELEX: 5841503157 PNHG INTERNET::PALMER@ATSVAX.RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU CC E-MAIL::ANTARCTIC.OPS, NSF.DPP.OCEANOPS, P.PENHALE, T.DELACA, R.HANSON, ASA.MCMURDO, ASA.DENVER, NSF.MCMURDO, ASA.CHCH, E.HOFMANN, NSF.CHCH, R.BOOTH, O.HOLM.HANSEN, G.MITCHELL, M.VERNET, M.HUNTLEY, R.WHRITNER, D.KARL, D.AINLEY, W.FRASER, B.SIDELL, W.DETRICH, VLF@STAR.SPAN, M.KENNICUTT, K.DUNTON, W.STOCKTON, L.QUETIN, R.ROSS, R.BERNSTEIN, ABENNETT@27867.SPAN, ZEPPLEY@27867.SPAN, POLAR.DUKE, SOUTH.POLE, J.PROSPERO, W.TRIVELPIECE, R.SMITH.UCSB, T.HOLLIBAUGH, GMCC.BOULDER (pass to B.Mendonca), F.AZAM, R.RADTKE, S.WEILER, DENEB@RADLAB.UCSF.EDU, CHAPPELL@UCRACC.SPAN, DALLUGE@ATMOS.OGI.EDU, TFOSTER@UCSCC.UCSC.EDU, ENELSON%MINES.BITNET@SDS.SPAN LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM (LTER): AN ICE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT The ice was blown out of Arthur Harbor on November 30, allowing us to test the zodiac sampling system (the ROZE), initiate regular sampling of the water column, and increase access to the seabird rookeries surrounding Palmer Station. Two transects, one onshore/offshore (stations A through E) and one along a 3 km radius from Palmer Station (stations F through J), were set up in early December, and the coordinates incorporated into our geographic positioning system. The two transects are occupied on a weekly or twice weekly schedule by the three water column components of the LTER: primary production (S-016), prey (S-028), and optics and remote sensing (S-032). These transects are used for vertical optical profiles, water sampling for pigment and primary production, and distribution of krill, silverfish and zooplankton. On December 18, we coordinated sampling our transect with the overflight of a new POLDER system that had been coordinated by RACER. Our groundtruth data will provide additional information for Robert Frouin. Increases in phytoplankton standing stock is greatest in a circle close to the harbor, but also evident at the offshore stations. Five REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) students are now on station. They are fully integrated into the various research teams, and each has an independent research project as well as responsibilities to fulfill the overall objectives of the LTER. S-013 LTER: SEABIRD COMPONENT. W.Fraser and W. Trivelpiece, P.I.s. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, and THE BAHIA PARAISO OIL SPILL: IMPACTS ON A SOUTHERN OCEAN SEABIRD COMMUNITY. W. Fraser, P.I. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. Field Team: B. Houston (leader) and D. Keller Pack ice moved in and out of the harbor and surrounding waters several times during the first 10 days of December allowing access to most of the islands as needed. Reproductive sites for Adelie penguins continued to be set up, and banding of known aged birds and their mates continued as birds were found. Daily Adelie nest checks for eggs and chicks were begun on both Torgersen and Humble Islands. On December 5th, we weighed and measured both eggs of 50 Adelie nests in colony 14, and weighed and measured the female at the nest as well. Monitoring of colony 23 (oil spill focal colony), including reproductive success of birds exposed to fuel, was also continued. Censusing of all giant petrels on all islands within the two mile area was done from December 7-16. Coincidentally with the petrel surveys, we set up reproductive sites for cormorants on Cormorant Island, and kelp gull reproductive sites on Hermit, Limitrophe, Norsel Point, Bonaparte Point, and Kristie Cove. A complete gull survey of all islands, including one time visits to Laggard, Shortcut Point, and Halfway Islands was completed on the 15th. Skua territories continued to be monitored and mapped on each island, and band numbers recorded as available. Marine mammals were recorded as encountered on each island or surrounding waters. We continued to measure and classify collected limpet shells, and improve colony and reproductive site maps when ice and/or weather conditions confined us to Palmer Station. S-016 LTER: PATTERNS AND REGULATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION. B. Prezelin, P.I., University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: B. Prezelin, N. Boucher, M. Moline, K. Seydell, K. Scheppe. B. Prezelin and N. Boucher departed in mid-December on SAAMIB, and K. Sydell and K. Scheppe arrived on SAMMIA. December included postcruise workup of shipboard productivity data while at Palmer, establishing logistics for Palmer based studies from December 1991 to March 1992, implementing a sampling strategy, and continuing experiments. B. Prezelin, N. Boucher, and M. Moline (1) completed a recount of all C14 samples (n=ca. 10000) from the November LTER cruise (ending Nov. 22); (2) completed the setup of the laboratory and the outdoor incubation system, and light, weather, and ice monitoring system for the season; (3) established the zodiac sampling schedule, and (4) completed experiments designed to determine the temporal and spatial variability in photosynthetic performance, potential, quantum efficiency, photoadaptive and photoinhibitory state, as well as rates of light-independent rates of carbon fixation via beta- carboxylation in the area around Palmer station. Databases of both S-016 (Prezelin) and S-032 (Smith) components will be combined to produce contour plots of key variables known to regulate patterns of primary production and to further development of the predictive bio-optical model for Antartic primary productivity. Productivity work is based on GoFlo bottle casts at LTER zodiac sampling stations (n=4 to 8 depths per location, down to 100 meters). The December report for the LTER remote sensing and biooptics component summarizes the hydrographic and optical parameters logged during CTD/OFFI profiles of water column. Our group collected and processed samples during the same time frame for analyses of 1] inorganic nutrients (NH4, NO3, PO4, Silicate); 2] particulate silicate (n=204); 3] CHN (n=192); and 4] HPLC samples (n= 334) to be analyzed for 12 different chlorophyll and carotenoid markers of phytoplankton taxonomy and photophysiological state at time of sampling; 5] photosynthetic performance, potential, quantum efficiency, photoadaptive and photoinhibitory state, as well as rates of light-independent rates of carbon fixation via beta-carboxylation (n= 9,900 C14 samples). In addition, Q10 experiments were conducted weekly to determine the temperature-dependency of the above photosynthetic parameters over the temperature range evident throughout the photic zone of the water column and evident over time. Approximatly 200 HPLC samples have been analyzed since the 17th of December. On the 18th of December, S-016 and S-032 collaborated with the RACER group and provided supplimentary ground data for an airborn spectral instrument. On the 27th of December a collaboration with Deneb Karenz was completed looking at the effects of UV light on laboratory cultures. Communications between B. Prezelin in Santa Barbara, CA and field group at Palmer Station have been good. S-028 LTER: PREY COMPONENT/SECONDARY PRODUCERS. R. Ross and L. Quetin, P.I.s. University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: L. Quetin, R. Ross, T. Newberger, T. Moylan, K. Haberman, and K. Hacecky. Mid-December turn over in personnel - L. Quetin (SAMMIB) and T. Moylan (SAAMIA) departed Palmer Station and R. Ross (SAAMIA), K. Haberman (SAAMIA) and K. Hacecky (SAMMIB) arrived on station. Although most of the ice was blown out on November 30, enough fast ice remained in Arthur Harbor to permit continued collection and observation of krill larvae and juveniles under the ice during the first week in December. An austral spring (Oct 22, Nov 29 and Dec 4) series of instantaneous growth rate (IGR) experiments with young krill collected by divers from under the ice near Palmer Station has continued using young krill collected with nets from the water column in the same area (2 experiments in late December). These brief experiments give rates of growth and molting of krill without the inherent problems of either standard analysis of length frequencies over time, or laboratory growth rates under often constant conditions. Growth rates and molting frequency of krill collected from Palmer Basin will be compared to those collected during the cruise and from a much wider spatial area. Such comparisons give seasonal and spatial variability in growth and molting, and allow us to evaluate how representative the growth rates of krill collected in the nearshore areas of Palmer Station are of the study region. Concurrent data on food availability and temperature will be be helpful in the analysis of possible environmental effects on growth and molting. Regular surveys of the nearshore environment for both krill and silverfish were initiated in mid-December as soon as weather and ice conditions permitted. We conduct acoustic surveys with a 120 kHz BioSonics instrument (n = 12) and fish the upper 35 m with a 16-ft otter trawl (n = 21) both between stations and when targets are observed. Acoustic surveys of the two transects were conducted twice weekly, once in conjunction with the primary production and optical surveys, and once in conjunction with the trawling surveys. Zooplankton are collected weekly (n = 10) with a 1-m ring net from the entrance to Arthur Harbor (station B) and from our outer most station near the shelf break (station E ) for seasonal and spatial changes in community composition of the smaller zooplankters. Both the otter trawl and the 1-m net are deployed by hand from a Mark V zodiac. Although we have only completed 2.5 weeks of this sampling program there are certain discernible patterns. (1) Transect surveys. This austral spring, schools of krill are found regularly near the harbor entrance, occasionally in mid- transect of the onshore/offshore transect, and rarely near the shelf break. Krill collected from one of these schools are of a wide size range, but almost all are immature and will probably not reproduce this season. Both juvenile and adult krill from the otter trawl have been frozen for chemical composition and condition factor analyses. (2) Zooplankton community composition is markedly different at the inner and outer stations: copepods dominate the outer station where phytoplankton concentrations are lower, and pteropods, fish larvae, and krill dominate the inner station. Fish larvae are being identified. Most are from benthic notothenoids, not from silverfish. The possible use of natural penguin 'spill' as they regurgitate food to their chicks as a source of information of what sizes of krill are found within the foraging area of the Adelies, and whether these krill are the same size as those collected in Arthur Harbor is being evaluated. Mark Chappell (S-200) has collected multiple samples for us, and one REU student is regularly joining his research team on Torgersen Island to collect additional samples. Although whole krill are seldom found in 'spill', eye diameter of recognizable krill eyes can be measured. A strong correlation between eye diameter and total length allows us to estimate the size composition of the krill in the diets of these penguins, and thus what is available in the immediate area. In addition to zodiac operations and live animal experiments we have set up a schedule and a workstation for analysis of the preserved trawl samples from the November 1991 LTER cruise. S-032 LTER: ROMOTE SENSING AND BIO-OPTICS COMPONENT. R. Smith, P.I. University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: R. Smith, T. Newberger, S. Fitzpatrick, and P. Handley. Field team turnover in mid-December had R. Smith (SAAMIB) and S. Fitzpatrick (SAAMIA) departing and P. Handley (SAAMIA) arriving at Palmer Station. Collection of optical and CTD data has proceded routinely since 3 December as the pack ice moved out of the Palmer boating limits. During the first several sampling trips we were able to eliminate all of the bugs in the ROZE. We are able to return to precise station locations on each sampling date with the navigational aid of the portable GPS (Global Positioning System). At each station we obtain water column profiles of physical and optical characteristics using the CTD and the OFFI (Optical Free Fall Instrument). These instruments are deployed in real time and are controlled by an on-board portable computer. Because we collect the data in real time we are able to relay important information such as the chlorphyl maximum and the thermocline depth to the other zodiac from which water is sampled for primary production estimates. The data is stored on the hard disk of the computer until it is archived on floppies back at station. We sampled at the LTER stations on 14 days in December, collecting 106 water column profiles with the OFFI and CTD. Surface water for chlorophyl analysis back in the lab were also obtained at each station on each sampling date. We also obtain water samples from the production component at multiple depths from two selected stations each week for chlorophyl analysis. We have continued to sample surface water for chlorophyl analysis from two sites that are accessable by land on a weekly basis. There is considerable variability in the physical properties of the water column among the LTER stations despite the relatively small region to which they are confined. Generally surface salinity is lower, surface temperature is higher and flourescence is higher at the more inshore stations compared to those nearer the 100 fathom depth line. S-014 ENERGETICS OF THE ADULTS AND LARVAE OF ANTARCTIC KRILL, EUPHAUSIA SUPERBA. L. B. Quetin and R. M. Ross, PIs, University of California at Santa Barbara, California Field Team: L. B. Quetin (PI) and T. Moylan were on station in early December, departing on SAAMIB and SAAMIA respectively. R. Ross (PI) and J.Mahoney arrived on station in mid-December on SAAMIA and SAAMIB respectively. Although L. B. Quetin, R. Ross and T. Moylan were on station during half of December, 90% of their effort was for the prey component of the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) project. Post-cruise analysis of samples and data from WinCruise IV (September 1991) necessary before samples were lost was completed prior to December. During December scientific gear was inventoried and packed for retrograde to CONUS. Uni-algal cultures of phytoplankton were established for assimilation efficiency experiments planned for later in the summer. Innocula of 6 species of diatoms and of Phaeocystis were kindly given us by D. Karentz (S-031). S-031 PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF ULTRAVIOLET-ABSORBING COMPOUNDS IN ANTARCTIC ORGANISMS D. Karentz, P.I., University of California, San Francisco. Field Team: D. Karentz, W. Dunlap., T. Gast During the past month final collections were made from intertidal areas in Kristie Cove to complete our time series study of UV-absorbing compounds in field populations of invertebrates and algae. Final samplings were also made on plants and animals that had been maintained under three different UV light regimes in outdoor seawater tanks since Sept. Laboratory analyses of all samples continued. An experiment on the physiological responses of individual phytoplankton species to ambient UV radiation was completed in collaboration with S-016. Unialgal cultures of local phytoplankton species were used and samples were collected over a two-week period for analysis of UV-absorbing compounds, pigments, photosynthetic characteristics and cell division rates. All project personnel will be departing on Jan 5. RACER: RESEARCH ON ANTARCTIC COASTAL ECOSYSTEM RATES AND PROCESSES S-044 (D. Karl, University of Hawaii), S-045 (M. Huntley, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California), S-046 (O. Holm-Hansen, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California), and S-210 (A. Amos, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas) The RACER program focussed on the study of physical and biological dynamics of the Gerlache Strait in a 26-day field period from mid-December through early January. The field program involved approximately 200 deployments of a CTD/rosette system and 200 deployments of a multiple opening and closing net and environmental sensing system (MOCNESS) at a series of 45 stations which were repetitively sampled througout the study. A total of 22 ARGOS-linked Lagrangian drifters were released througout the region to study sources and fates of surface flow. Water was collected at each station for a variety of measurements of particulate standing stocks, dissolved gases, and experimental determinations of rates of microbial primary and secondary production. Five successful overflights of an aircraft-borne ocean color scanner (POLDER) were accomplished during the study. Free-floating sediment traps were deployed on three occasions for measurements of the depth-related particulate vertical flux, and free-floating incubators were deployed to measure primary production. Two intensive studies of diel vertical migration of zooplankton were completed. Rates of feeding, respiration and egg production of a variety of representative zooplankton species were measured throughout the region. Results will be analyzed to ascertain the effects of physical circulation on the dynamics of planktonic communities, and how these processes determine the unique biological environment residing in Gerlache Strait. A one-day study of the ice edge zone in Marguerite Bay was completed involving joint ship- aircraft operations along a 10-station transect. S-106 -- VLF TRIMPI STUDIES AT PALMER STATION. U.S. Inan (P.I.) No personnel on station. Equipment being monitored and maintained by station Science Technician Rod Corson. Most recordings were made for the month of December. Most recorded data was shipped out with the last departure of the R/V Polar Duke on 05 Jan, the remainder of the recorded data will be shipped out on the next departure of the R/V Polar Duke. Inventory of data now on station: (Jan. 05, 1992) 17 - Continuous VLF Tapes from 28 Dec to present. 17 - Trimpi recordings on digital tape from 21 Dec. to present. The daily recording schedule continues with two continuous VLF recordings, from 0400 to 0700 and from 0700 to 1000 UT, and one digital tape recording of Trimpi activity, from 0130 to 1200 UT. Monday morning charts of the Trimpi data are still being sent to Stanford so that the investigators can maintain a better understanding of equipment performance and suggest any needed changes or adjustments to the site. S-200 REPRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN ADELIE PENGUINS M. A. Chappell and V. H. Shoemaker, PI's, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California Field Team: M. A. Chappell and T. L. Bucher arrived at Palmer during the first week of December, joining D. Janes and D. Patterson. During the first part of the month, the team attempted to catch up on preliminary field work delayed by heavy sea ice during November and early December. We continued to record the status of banded pairs of penguins and to band additional birds as necessary to bring the total number of stable banded pairs to about 160. These pairs will form the basis for further observations and measurements this season. Several measurements of body composition and field metabolic rate (FMR) during the incubation phase were obtained using isotopic dilution and turnover techniques. Egg laying and consequently hatching was approximately one week later than normal this season, possibly because of heavy ice cover in November. The first chicks were observed on 15 December and approximately 95% of all remaining eggs had hatched by 30 December. Measurements of adult foraging behavior and energetics during the incubation phase were begun on 14 December, utilizing doubly- labeled water (DLW) and time-depth recorders (TDRs). Eight such measurements were completed by the end of the month. The at-sea foraging periods for these penguins ranged from 3 to 8 days. As observed last season, foraging occurred throughout the day, with dive frequency and dive depth declining at night. Most foraging dives were to depths of 10-50 meters, with a maximum of 90-100 meters. During foraging trips, birds were actively swimming from 30-50% of the time. Studies of chick metabolism, osmoregulation, and food consumption commenced shortly after adequate numbers of hatchlings became available (18-20 December). Field studies of growth rates of approximately 100 marked chicks began on 18 December and will be continued until these birds fledge or disappear. We are using deuterium turnover to estimate the water flux in growing chicks in the colonies. Food consumption rates (i.e., adult provisioning) and heat production will be computed from the water flux data and studies of the water content of the food provided by adults. Samples of spilled food are being provided to Dr. R. Ross (S-028) for determinations of prey size characteristics. Additional lab studies of growth efficiency and osmoregulation (water, electrolyte, and nitrogen balance) were also initiated in December. S-275 UM/DOE ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING PROGRAM AT PALMER STATION. T. Snowdon, University of Miami; C. Sanderson/N. Chui, EML/DOE N.Y. No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson. System continues to operate with normal weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts, with one sample filter being exposed for the duration of the week. All recorded data on station was shipped North with the departure of the R/V Polar Duke. Information on 3.5 floppies was copied and stored on site before the originals were shipped. On Station there are currently one (1) exposed filter, one (1) filter being exposed, one (1) prepared blank filter, and one (1) data disk currently being used to log data. T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson. The satellite collection schedule continues with fourteen (14) NOAA satellite passes. Four DMSP satellite passes are also collected daily. These passes are recorded digitally on 8mm video tape. There are eleven (11) full 8mm "video" tapes of collected passes on station and one current tape almost complete. A few passes have failed in the collection process for various reasons and Palmer is in contact with Bob Whritner and Seaspace about these irregularities. The lost passes amount to only a very small percentage of total desired passes. In order to record NOAA-12 passes the HRPT receiver must be switched to channel 2. This problem appears to be software related. Both NOAA-11 and NOAA-10 can still be recorded in the remote position. T-313 UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments. No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson. The scan schedule continues with hourly data scans, plus four response and two wavelength scans per day. An absolute calibration scan was run on Dec 22. Daily data packages are sent to Biospherical via E-Mail. The Palmer monthly weather summaries are now being sent to Biospherical on what we expect to be a regular basis. It has been discovered that Palmer can create a file that will directly load into the spreadsheet program that is used by Biospherical. A new version of UVDECODE is now on line at Palmer station and we are now able to process better preliminary data. Some of this preliminary data is being used by other science teams on station and some data has also been sent to Faraday Station. All users of this information realize that it is only preliminary data and is not properly corrected and finalized.