Primary production in the Arctic Ocean estimated from dissolved oxygen

The deep, central basins of the Arctic Ocean have been thought to support little biological production. However, summer dissolved oxygen data from the upper mixed layer of the ice-covered central Arctic Ocean yield estimates of primary production which are high enough to account for oxygen utilization in the halocline. Thus, it may not be necessary to postulate either that all significant primary production is on or near the continental shelves, or that organic matter is transported along isopycnals over decades of time to support respiration in the halocline over the deep basins. Because dissolved oxygen data are available for many parts of the Arctic Basin, it may be possible to begin to look for regional differences in productivity. It remains true that more primary production is occurring on the extensive continental shelves than in the basins, and some dissolved organic matter produced on continental shelves must be entering the basins via the halocline. Some of that dissolved organic matter may also contribute to secondary production and to the observed oxygen utilization. However, the evidence from dissolved oxygen measurements, as well as from the observations on consumers, from bacteria to bears, suggests the presence of a complete, locally supported food web in the permanently ice-covered regions of the Arctic Ocean.