Underwater observations of ice algae in Lutzow-Holm Bay, Antarctica

Abstract

Heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of standing stock of ice algae was observed by the SCUBA divings in January 1983,in a fast ice area of Lutzow-Holm Bay, Antarctica. Colonies of ice algae easily came off from the undersurface of sea ice due to the mechanical disturbances from the ice corer and from water movements caused by a diver. The bottom layer of sea ice was here and there fragile as the substratum of ice algae and was susceptible to disturbances. Based on the observations, the accuracy in the estimation of standing stock of ice algae was discussed.