Structure and function of contemporary food webs on Arctic shelves: A panarctic comparison: The pelagic system of the Kara Sea – Communities and components of carbon flow

摘要: Abstract After a short introduction to the physical setting and history of biological research pelagic ecosystem Kara Sea is described. Main emphasis on regional aspects plankton communities their seasonal dynamics using mostly data collected between 1996 2001. In zooplankton, for which most were available, four aggregations separated: (1) rivers estuaries Southern Sea, (2) south-western (3) central (4) northern troughs slope. The phytoplankton had similar distribution. To provide components detailed carbon budgets bacterial, zooplankton biomass production are described requirements bacteria estimated. For completeness literature review higher trophic levels included. Finally, recent observations pelago-benthic coupling considered. Estimates from benthos reveal large underestimation primary production, date, together with aspects, shows largest gap in our knowledge.