The Potential Effect of Sea-Ice Loss on Arctic Marine Ecosystems

The relationship between climate and marine food webs is complex, involving numerous interactions and feedbacks, many of which are poorly understood. In the Arctic Ocean, this relationship is highly dependent on how climate is manifested in sea ice dynamics. Sea ice directly impacts light and water-column stratification, and therefore strongly influences biological production and community structure. Observed and predicted changes in sea ice will undoubtedly influence the structure and function of marine Arctic food webs. However, before we can accurately predict how changes in sea ice will affect marine Arctic ecosystems, we must first understand the relationship between sea ice and biological processes. In this talk, I will explore the unique role of sea ice in shaping ecological processes in the Arctic Ocean and the susceptibility of these food webs to modifications of the sea ice environment.