FEB92 Palmer SITREP - R.Ross MAR92 Palmer SITREP - R.Ross SEND PLM246.MAR MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",ASAHQ PSDN-2906 SCIENCE SITREP R 082127Z MAR 92 FROM: ROBIN M. ROSS CC EMAIL: Fred Frederick, Station Manager Ann Peoples, Operations Manager !TO ASA PEOPLES 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, 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 In addition to the regular schedule of sampling in waters within two nautical miles of Palmer Station and studies of the reproductive success of both Adelie penguins and south polar skuas, three components (S-016, S-028 and S-032) of the LTER extended their surveys further into Palmer Basin as weather and the presence of support vessels allowed. On 8 February a group of four zodiacs ran a transect across Bismarck Strait and the shelf near Wauermans Islands to characterize the hydrographic and optical parameters of the water column, and to survey phytoplankton, zooplankton and acoustical targets. The transect was partially repeated on 16 February. On 12 February the same three groups on MV Erebus extended the spatial scale of sampling further into the basin, and repeated one of the LTER grid stations from mid-November. Chlorophyll a values were about 1 ug/l on the shelf near the Waumermans in mid-February, the thermocline was distinct, and many fish larvae were found in neuston tows. Such extensions of the spatial scale of our regular weekly monitoring enable us to evaluate how well our ten near shore stations represent the larger region of interest and where to concentrate our efforts in subsequent years. Chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased early in the month, but after a few days of clearing skies and sunshine, signs of a second phytoplankton bloom appeared in mid-to-late February. Chlorophyll a values were 3 to 4 ug/l by 24 February. Water temperatures were low (+0.5 C) and nearly isothermal by the end of the month. In the first part of the month schools of antarctic krill were near the surface, and small schools of antarctic silverfish were observed several times associated with such schools. Surface sightings of fish and krill were non-existent in mid-February, and krill schools were in general smaller, deeper and less frequently observed. February 28 a large school of krill on the surface and associated small schools of fish were sighted. Some krill were stranded in the intertidal during this period, a phenomenon which has been observed in several seasons about this time of year. Observations of similar patterns in the distribution of phytoplankton and krill, and correlations with the foraging times of the penguins are intriguing. 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: W. Fraser, B. Houston and D. Patterson Research on the foraging ecology and reproductive success of South Polar Skuas, was the focal point of our LTER-related work this month, replacing similar work initiated on Adelies earlier in the season. Since October, the begining of South Polar Skua pair formation, we have monitored 70 nests on Shortcut Island at three day intervals to determine variability in clutch initiation date, egg weights, chick growth and development, and a host of other parameters that are sensitive to food availability in the marine system, in particular the availability of the Antarctic Silverfish. South Polar Skuas cannot breed successfully if these prey are not available. These reproductive indicators and coincident diet studies suggest that Silverfish were extremely abundant this season, with skuas fledging approximately 1.45 chicks per pair. Although transmitter deployment strategies for South Polar Skuas were tested, we were unable to actually deploy transmitters on skuas on Humble Island to evaluate the use of telemetry equipment for determining the duration of foraging trips in this species. Bad weather and a shortage of personnel required that end of the season priorities be assigned to the on-going seasonal reproductive study. All aspects of the work on Adelies were completed successfully, including a reproductive and diet study, growth rates, fledging success and weights and the duration of foraging trips. Remaining work on the effects of the BAHIA PARAISO spill on the area's seabird community was successfully completed. This included final censuses, diet and reproductive success on Kelp Gulls, Cormorants, Giant Petrels and Adelie Penguins. This work had been delayed earlier due to weather-related factors. 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: R. Ross, M. Amsler, and J. Mahoney. J. Mahoney departed Palmer Station on 22 February. A protocol was developed to measure the activity of a second metabolic enzyme of importance in mitochondria in our studies of seasonal differences in respiration rate in adult antarctic krill. Assays for citrate synthase activity have been completed, and will be compared to the measured oxygen consumption rates of these krill, and the cytochrome oxidase activity of adults from the same oxygen consumption experiment. Assimilation efficiency of adult krill fed two species of phytoplankton over a range of concentrations was measured in 8 experiments. Estimates for Thalassiosira antarcticum (n=3) will be compared to those from the 1990-1991 season and those for Phaeocystis pouchetti (n=5). P. pouchetti was in colonial phase and readily ingested by adult krill. Actual assimilation efficiency estimates must await the carbon and nitrogen elemental analysis done at UCSB. S-016 LTER: PATTERNS AND REGULATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION. B. Prezelin, P.I., University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: M. Moline (field leader), K. Seydell, K. Scheppe. Palmer databases of both Smith and Prezelin components will be combined to produce 3 D contour plots of key variables known to regulate patterns of primary production and to further development of predictive bio-optical model for Antarctic primary productivity. Our group collected and processed samples for analyses of: 1] inorganic nutrients (NH4, NO3, PO4, Silicate) with a n=587 for each nutrient ; 2] particulate silicate (n=321); 3] CHN (n=321); and 4] HPLC samples (n= 423) to be analyzed for 12 different chlorophyll and carotenoid markers of phytoplankton taxonomy and photophysiological state at time of sampling; 5] 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 (n= 8,245 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. Collection of water samples for experimentation was done by zodiac from Palmer station at predetermined LTER stations. During the month of February, the high sampling frequency of these stations was maintained to better document the phytoplankton biomass, populations, and productivity. In addition, 720 HPLC samples from collections at Palmer and on the Polar Duke in November were analyzed and pigment concentrations were determined. All C14 samples were analyzed and data collected in January and February was worked up. February also marked the end of the field season and all the associated packing and retrograding of cargo was accomplished. S-028 LTER: PREY COMPONENT/SECONDARY PRODUCERS. R. Ross and L. Quetin, P.I.s. University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: R. Ross, T. Newberger, K. Haberman, and K. Hacecky. Regular surveys of the nearshore environment for both krill and silverfish continued. Acoustical surveys (120 kHz BioSonics instrument) (n = 15) 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 (16-ft otter trawl (n = 5)) and to identify sonic targets for targeted tows (n = 7 with otter trawl plus n=14 with ring net). Acoustic surveys were also done during two night transects to the Wauwermans Islands and during the 8-h cruise in Palmer Basin on the Erebus. Zooplankton tows (1-meter ring net) were conducted twice weekly along the transects (n=21) both day and night, and during the cruises to the Wauwermans and to Palmer Basin (n = 7). Neuston tows (n=10) at night netted both fish larvae and krill. All targeted tows contained only antarctic krill, although small schools of fish were also sighted on the surface early in the month when krill schools were often at the surface. Krill reappeared nearer to shore and closer to the surface in late February as the second bloom of the season commenced, and on the last day of the month were found stranded in tide pools in Arthur Harbor. Krill from mid and late February were used to determine growth rates (n = 2) and frozen for chemical composition and condition factor (n = 4 groups). Such information on the dominant grazer in conjunction with field ingestion rates (n=1) and HPLC analysis of the digestive gland and fecal pellets of these grazers and analysis of both pigments (S-016, primary production component of the LTER) and particulate organic carbon and nitrogen of material collected in sediment traps (n=5) will be used to help us understand the interactions between producers, grazers and flux to the bottom. Unfortunately the sediment trap was lost late in the month, probably dragged into deeper waters by an iceberg. Sizes of krill eaten by Adelie penguins within their foraging area continued to be monitored by measuring eye diameters in diet samples taken by S-013, the seabird component of the LTER (n = 4). A subsample of krill from these diet samples was also preserved for maturity stage composition. Although the ovary itself has usually been ingested, residual oocytes in the thoracic area provide clues to the maturity stage of the females. Collection of guano samples from south polar skuas on Bonaparte Point (4 trips) has proven to be an effective technique for collecting otoliths of Pleuragramma antarcticum, the antarctic silverfish. The proportion of otoliths from the myctophid Electrona decreased, and that of silverfish increased during the month. A comparison of the otoliths from intact skulls of fish from penguin diet samples (S- 013) to otoliths from guano samples suggests that the otoliths of Pleuragramma pass through the gut of the south polar skua virtually unchanged. South polar skua guano promises to be a good source of otoliths for aging and growth studies of the silverfish in the Palmer Basin area. In mid-month samples of krill and fish frozen for chemical composition and condition factor analysis back at UCSB were briefly thawed when the compressor on the -70 C freezer was inadvertently turned off. Initial fears that the samples were no longer of use for chemical composition proved to be incorrect. Tests for differences in total protein and lipid content in samples of krill before and after similar brief periods of thawing suggest that degradation of protein and lipid beyond the components measured by the assays (amino acids, fatty acids and fatty alcohols) was not significant. S-032 LTER: REMOTE SENSING AND BIO-OPTICS COMPONENT. R.C. Smith, P.I. University of California, Santa Barbara, California Field Team: T. Newberger and P. Handley. Characterization of the physical and optical properties of the water column at the Palmer area stations continued routinely. During ten days at sea, CTD casts (N=47) and OFFI profiles (N=40) were collected weekly this month along with the opportunistic sampling in the Bismark strait. Dramatic differences in the physical structure of the water column were observed in the Bismark strait as compared to our regular sampling area. In situ fluorometry indicated a second phytoplankton bloom in the Palmer area during mid-to-late February. Chlorophyll concentrations were observed to increase up through the last sampling date. Satellite weather photos were collected with the help of Rod Corson from the TeraScan system on station twice per week. Very few ice cover photos were available due to cloud cover. Contour plots of chlorophyll were generated from the in situ fluorometry data for each sampling date. These plots show a subsurface chlorophyll max which increases in intensity at the near-shore sampling stations. 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. All recordings were made for the month of February Inventory of data now on station: (Feb. 29, 1992) 138 - Continuous VLF Tapes from 28 Dec to present. 76 - 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. Cable to VLF loop antenna is inspected and adjusted on a weekly basis, to keep cable from freezing into ice. 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 two (2) exposed filters, one (1) filter being exposed, one (1) prepared blank filter, one archive disk for month of February, and one (1) data disk currently being used to log data. T-312: TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institute. No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson The satellite collection schedule continues with three (3) NOAA satellite passes. Two (2) DMSP f-10 satellite passes are also collected daily. These passes are recorded digitally on 8mm video tape. There are forty-three (43) 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 a very small percentage of total desired passes. 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 three response and two wavelength scans per day. An absolute calibration scan was run on Feb 27. 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 better able to process 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.