Summer melting of sea ice leads to the formation of under-ice melt ponds in Arctic seas. The biological characteristics of such a pond were studied in summer 1993. The chlorophyte Pyramimonas sp. A comparison with ice core data revealed differences in algal biomass and community structure.
Physical data indicate that under-ice ponds are a common feature in the Arctic Ocean.
Thus, communities within under-ice ponds, which have not been included in production estimates, may significantly contribute to the Arctic marine food web. Sea ice biota . Under-ice pond . Pyramimonas Published in MEPS Vol.