CLIMATE-CHANGE AND BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE ARCTIC-OCEAN

Polar environments are characterized by unique physical and chemical c onditions for the development of life. Low temperatures and the season ality of light create one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. The A rctic sea ice cover not only acts as an insulator for heat and energy exchange processes between ocean and atmosphere but also serves as a u nique habitat for a specialized community of organisms, consisting of bacteria, algae, protozoa and metazoa. The primary production of sea i ce algae may play a crucial role in the life cycle of planktonic and b enthic organisms. Thus, a reduction of the sea ice extent due to envir onmental changes will influence the structure and processes of communi ties living inside the ice and pelagic realms.