Polar Research (E-Journal)
Not a member yet
1388 research outputs found
Sort by
Review of The North Pole was here: puzzles and perils at the top of the world, by Andrew C. Revkin
No full textEver wondered what the men’s toilet at Camp Borneo, a temporary Russian camp on the ice about 96 km from the North Pole, consists of? In The North Pole was here, Andrew Revkin reveals this—“a waist high igloo-style wall of ice blocks” (p. 16)—and other details of the fi eld conditions experienced by scientists who carry out research near the very top of the world
Ecophysiological studies on arthropods from Spitsbergen
No full textThe cold-hardiness, high temperature tolerance and metabolic activity of summer specimens of staphylinid beetles (Atheta graminicola), collembolans (Onichiurus groenlandicw), spiders (Erigone arcrica), and prostigmatid mites (Molgus linoralb) from Spitsbergen were investigated. The animals displayed coldhardiness and haemolymph melting points within the normal ranges for summer insects from temperate regions, but were less tolerant to high temperatures. Haemolymph from spiders and from one species of collembolans (lsoroma sp.) was found to contain thermal hysteresis factors. The beetles. collembolans. and mites were found to have oxygen consumption rates above the values of their relatives in other climatic zones, whereas the spiders had values within the range of temperate arachnoids. The study supports the view that polar arthropods have activation energy values lower than those of temperate animals
Polychaetes from Jan Mayen (Annelida, Polychaeta)
No full textA thorough literature review has been undertaken to establish the first complete account of polychaetes recorded from the area around the volcanic island of Jan Mayen. The annotated checklist lists 121 species-level taxa, representing an increase from the 75 species previously recorded. The checklist is based on existing records, supplemented with material sampled in 1999, from which 42 species new to the area were reported. Some previously reported species from the area have been excluded because of inadequate documentation. The polychaete fauna of Jan Mayen is comparable with that of the mainland Norwegian coast and the Svalbard area. No taxa unique to the island were found. However, knowledge of the marine invertebrate fauna in general at Jan Mayen is sparse because few surveys have been undertaken there. It is expected that future expeditions will reveal further new taxon records for the area
Melt pond formation and temporal evolution at the drifting station Tara during summer 2007
No full textMelt pond coverage of sea ice in the High Arctic was observed for a period of 28 days: from 24 June to 21 July 2007. Pond fractions were computed from digital photographs automatically obtained with a camera and computer unit mounted in the mast of the drifting polar schooner Tara. The area visible in the series of images corresponds to approximately 6400 m2 on the ice. By applying iterative image classification methods, the images were partitioned into melt ponds and other surface types, such as ice or snow. The percentage of melt ponds could be calculated for 22 out of 28 days. Six days were omitted from the analysis because of weather conditions causing poor visibility. Melt pond coverage was seen to rise rapidly shortly after the melt ponds started forming: between 24 and 30 June 2007 the pond fraction increased from 3 to 14%. After the first rapid growth period, the pond fraction increased more gradually, reaching 15% at the end of the data collection period (21 July 2007). Estimated with additional data, the maximum melt pond coverage was reached in mid- August, and totalled 32–42%. Melt onset date and the initial rapid melt pond growth agree well with previous research, but the areal pond coverage appears surprisingly high for the latitude (88°N). Direct comparison with previously observed melt pond coverage is rendered difficult by scarce observations of pond coverage sufficiently high up in the Arctic
Diversity and physiology of marine lignicolous fungi in Arctic waters: a preliminary account
No full textInformation on the diversity of marine fungi in polar environments is lacking, especially marine fungi colonizing wood. During visits to Tromsø and Longyearbyen, Norway, drift and trapped wood was collected to provide a preliminary account of lignicolous marine fungi in Arctic waters. Six marine fungi were recorded from 24 and 27 samples of wood from Tromsø and Longyearbyen, respectively. Among these, four marine fungi new to science were identified from wood collected at Longyearbyen. To shed light on the ecological role of this group of fungi in the Arctic, a physiological study of one of the collected fungi, Havispora longyearbyenensis, was conducted. H. longyearbyenensis grew at 4°C, 10°C, 15°C and 20°C in all salinities tested (0‰, 17‰, 34‰. However, growth was significantly reduced at 4°C and 0‰ salinity. The optimal condition for growth of H. longyearbyenensis was at 20°C in all salinities tested. Keywords: Arctic; diversity; marine fungi; physiology. (Published: 1 January 2011) Citation: Polar Research 2011, 30: 5859 - DOI: 10.3402/polar.v30i0.585
The cyathaspids of the Red Bay Group (Lower Devonian) of Spitsbergen
No full textDescription and validation of the cyathaspids (Vertebrata, Heterostraci) from the Red Bay Group of Spitsbergen, previously introduced and/or described by Kim (1930, 1932) and Kiax & A. Heinz (1935). The following species are defined: Dinaspidella robusta; Irregularempis hoeli, I. mirabilis n. sp. ; Poraspis Polaris, P. breuis, P. rostrata; Homalaspidella nitida; Anglaspis insignis, A. heintzi n. sp., A. elongata n sp.; Ctenaspis dentaia and C. cancellala. The biostratigraphy of these taxa is briefly reviewed. The Spitsbergen cyathaspids are mainly compared with the Canadian Arctic forms, for one of which the new name Dinaspidella elizabethae is introduced. 0 Spitsbergen, Lower Devonian, Cyathaspidiformes (Agnatha), systematic revision, new ta
Karst and karstification in gypsiferous beds in Mathiesondalen, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard
No full textRecent karst forms in gypsiferous beds are reported from Mathiesondalen in Central Spitsbergen, where several sinkholes (dolines) and swallow holes have been formed after the deposition of Holocene raised beach sediments. The bedrock of the area is mostly interbedded gypsudanhydrite and dolomites of the Carboniferous Ebbadalen Formation
Microclimate of the nest and egg water loss of the eider Somateria mollissima and other waterfowl in Spitsbergen
No full textTemperature gradients in the nest and within the egg. nest humidity as well as eggshell conductance and rate of egg water loss of the Eider Somareria mollissrma and other uaterfowl were studied at Ny-Alesund. Spitsbergen (78%" latitude). These studies suggest a specific interrelationship between eggshell conductance and maintenance of an appropriate temperature and humidity environment of the nest. resulting in an egg water loss rate which is optimal for hatching success. In spite of low ambient temperatures of less than 3°C and very low absolute humidities of less than 4 torr (similar to those found in hot deserts). the nest's microclimate and rate of mater loss were similar to those reported for nests and eggs in temperate climates