Research Objectives:
The overall objectives of Palmer LTER research are to document and understand the seasonal cycles of primary production, krill recruitment, Adele penguin breeding and microbial biogeochemical processes in the near shore regime of the coastal antarctic ecosystem. The specific objectives of the program in 2002-2003 include:
1. Establishing a microbial biogeochemistry component and initiating regular biweekly sampling at Stations A-E in Arthur Harbor, in conjunction with other groups, especially M Vernet (BP-016).
2. Sample for biomarkers of terrestrial vegetation, seabirds and marine bacterial, phytoplankton, zooplankton in dissolved and particulate organic matter in the near shore environment.
The overall objective is to continue the now 10-year long LTER time series on our regional scale grid of hydrographic stations. Specific objectives include:
1. Occupy the full LTER grid of stations including the inshore, and offshore stations on all lines. This has not been fully accomplished in several years. Occupation of inshore stations is to characterize the cold, inner shelf biome away from Arthur Harbor. Outer stations are necessary to fully sample krill on-to-offshore migration gradients. North and South stations are needed to fully cover the penguin breeding area.
2. Recover and redeploy long-term sediment trap array.
3. Conduct replicated fine scale surveys of oceanographic properties and bird observations within the Adelie penguin foraging area near Palmer Station.
4. Sample deep water properties (CTD) at several far-field (off-grid) stations in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in order to identify ACC water transport within the grid. This could be accomplished during the PUQ-PAL transit.
5. Sample deep water properties (CTD) on the grid in order to compute geostrophic currents and enable better estimates of absolute surface currents in the study region.
6. Visit Rothera Station (UK) on Adelaide Island to allow British colleagues to use LMG for one day of local hydrographic sampling.
7. Allow penguin biologists to visit Avian Island to conduct bird censuses and sample gut contents.
8. Occupy Arthur Harbor stations at least twice to maintain Palmer Station seasonal sampling (because all personnel normally at PAL are on the LMG).
