Kayla Evens

Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Saarinen, Emily

Area of Concentration

Environmental Science

Abstract

The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has experienced one of the fastest temperature increases in the world as a result of climate change. As temperatures increase, there are potential changes in the ecosystem and in physical and biogeochemical processes that might be expected to occur. This study attempted to identify potential North-South shifts in phytoplankton biomass, via chlorophyll concentration, given their importance as primary producer and role as main food source for keystone species within the marine ecosystem. These shifts were then compared to preexisting satellite imagery, and used to identify potential correlation between temperature and chlorophyll concentration changes. Hydrologic samples for phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll) were collected during the annual Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (PAL-LTER) summer cruise along the WAP from 1993-2015. Although not statistically significant, results indicate positive trends in the phytoplankton biomass in the southern PAL-LTER study area. Temperature is not a statistically significant variable in chlorophyll concentration changes but does play a crucial role in influencing other abiotic factors. As temperatures continue to increase, shifts in phytoplankton biomass are expected to continue, resulting in both changes in the upper trophic levels of the WAP marine ecosystem as well as potential global impacts.

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