Primary production of ice algae and phytoplankton from December to June, in a fjord near Nuuk, Greenland, 2005/2006

Ice algae accounts for less than 1% of the annual primary production at this coastal location, but the bloom occurs at least a month before any primary production is available from phytoplankton. Farther offshore, ice algae contribute much more to the total annual production: as much as over 50% [4]. 

Adapted from Mikkelsen et al. 2008 [58]

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) 

The data can be downloaded freely. Users are requested to reference the source.

Eamer, J., Donaldson, G.M., Gaston, A.J., Kosobokova, K.N., Lárusson, K.F., Melnikov, I.A., Reist, J.D., Richardson, E., Staples, L., von Quillfeldt, C.H. 2013. Life Linked to Ice: A guide to sea-ice-associated biodiversity in this time of rapid change. CAFF Assessment Series No. 10. Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, Iceland. ISBN: 978-9935-431-25-7.

4. Gosselin, M., Levasseur, M., Wheeler, P.A., Horner, R.A., and Booth, B.C. 1997. New measurements of phytoplankton and ice algal production in the Arctic Ocean. Deep-Sea Research Part Ii-Topical Studies in Oceanography 44(8): 1623-+. doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(97)00054-4.

58. Mikkelsen, D.M., Rysgaard, S., and Glud, R.N. 2008. Microalgal composition and primary production in Arctic sea ice: A seasonal study from Kobbeijord (Kangerluarsunnguaq), West Greenland. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 368: 65-74. doi:10.3354/meps07627.