Zooplankton Abundance and Species Composition (Excel)

Some of the most direct effects of changing climate will be on the extent, duration and timing of sea-ice over the Bering Sea shelf. Sea-ice controls the timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom, the fate of primary production, water column temperature and salinity, and provides a haul out and molting platform for marine mammals.

Thus, the most urgent priority of the Bering Sea Ecosystem Study-Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BEST-BSIERP) is to examine the role of changing sea-ice conditions on the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the ecosystem. The first BEST cruise was scheduled on the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy in April-May 2007, however, physical observations, water column nutrient chemistry, and zooplankton distribution / abundance were not among the ecosystem components funded in the first call for proposals.