THE COASTAL EDGE OF THE NORTHEAST WATER POLYNYA IN SPRING 1993

Multidisciplinary, marine ecological observations were conducted at th e shallow water edge of the Northeast Water in June, 1993. Although va riable in size and shape, a small polynya was constantly present at Es kimonaes, at the fast-ice edge of Ingolfsfjord. A shallow stratified l ayer developed at the water surface at negative water and air temperat ures-an effect of sea ice melting in cold water early in the season. N utrients were recorded in considerable quantities, although by mid Jul y NO3 had become depleted. The chlorophyll and phytoplankton maxima at 8-12 m depth had peak values of 2 mg chl a m(-3), typical for Arctic algal blooms. The phytoplankton included over 90 species and was domin ated by the Fragillariopsis group. Zooplankton was poor in biomass and density, but over 23 taxa were found, with the copepods Oithona simil is and Pseudocalanus acuspes being numerically dominant. Sedimentation was approximately 0.2 g dry weight m(-2) d(-1) and suspended matter c oncentrations ranged from 4 to 19 mg 1(-1). The benthos was represente d by hard bottom forms only, with a surprisingly dense cover of macrop hytes. Juvenile sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus-droebachiensis), britt le stars (Ophiocten sericeum) and amphipods were dominant. Higher trop hic levels were represented by benthic feeders, such as elders and wal ruses. The area observed was more similar to high Arctic fjord ecosyst ems than to the offshore central Northeast Water polynya.