The effects of climate change on benthic communities in the Arctic Kongsfjordsystem, Svalbard

Driessen, F.M.F. (2012) The effects of climate change on benthic communities in the Arctic Kongsfjordsystem, Svalbard. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Climate change is supposed to have an important effect on marine Arctic ecosystems. Increased temperatures will change the physical environment of northern fjords. Decreasing amounts of sea ice and sediment rich glacial run off affects light, nutrient and sedimentation conditions. These processes in turn will cause changes in primary production. The occurrence of benthic faunal life depends on the deposition of organic material for energy requirements. Changes in pelagic-benthic coupling will affect the entire ecosystem. In this thesis the various impacts of climate change on benthic communities in the Arctic Kongsfjordsystem are described. This system was chosen because it is an excellent natural model system for studying climate change related effects on marine communities. The structure and function of the benthic community suffers from high concentration and sedimentation rate of mineral suspensions, low levels of available organic matter and ice-berg scouring or sediment slides, as effects driven by climate change. Change in benthic communities is primarily caused by food supply and ice scouring.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 07:47
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 07:47
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/9936

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