Presenters: Emily Hayden, M.S, Oregon State University, and Jens Nielsen, Ph.D., University of Washington CICOES/NOAA AFSC
Sponsors: This seminar is part of NOAA's EcoFOCI bi-annual seminar series focused on the ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea and U.S. Arctic to improve understanding of ecosystem dynamics and applications of that understanding to the management of living marine resources. Since Oct 21, 1986, the seminar has provided an opportunity for research scientists and practitioners to meet, present, develop their ideas and provoke conversations on subjects pertaining to fisheries-oceanography or regional issues in Alaska's marine ecosystems, including the US Arctic. Visit the EcoFOCI webpage for more information.
Abstract
These presentations will provide an overview of ocean temperature and sea ice variability, paired with a discussion of its potential impacts on phytoplankton bloom timing and zooplankton diapause in the Bering Sea. Atmospheric variability is driving the majority of air-sea heat flux anomalies in the Bering Sea, which are contributing to recent elevated ocean temperatures and low sea ice concentrations. One potential impact is an offset between phytoplankton bloom timing and zooplankton coming out of diapause. After hearing about both of these topics, there will be time for a panel discussion with the speakers about variability in the Bering Sea.
Bios
Emily Hayden is a Graduate Research Fellow at Oregon State University in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, with a concentration in Physics of Oceans and Atmospheres. Her research focuses on the link between atmospheric variability and the ocean state, and the mechanisms that drive this coupling in the subpolar North Pacific.
Jens Nielsen is an aquatic ecologist focusing primarily on plankton ecology at NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center. His research aims to understand community and trophic dynamics in ecosystems in an effort to develop biological indicators of ecosystem changes along the US west coast from California to Alaska.