Distributions of dissolved oxygen and apparent oxygen utilization in the Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea in austral summer 2021

Dissolved oxygen(DO)and apparent oxygen utilization(AOU)are crucial parameters for investigating marine ecosystem evolution and the marine environment.In this study,DO and AOU data were obtained and their spatial distribution characteristics were explored in the Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea in austral summer 2021.The standard deviation range of DO parallel samples was<0.1–3.7μmol·L–1,which met the accuracy requirements of the survey method.The DO concentration decreased sharply with water depth in the photic zone and increased slowly to the bottom.AOU in the surface layer of the two seas was significantly negatively correlated with chlorophyll a(p<0.01),and AOU was significantly lower in the south Cosmonaut Sea than in the north Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea(p<0.01).In austral summer,AOU was as low as<130μmol·L–1 in the nearshore Cosmonaut Sea with thicker Antarctic Surface Water down to ca.500 m.In early winter,AOU was lower than 50μmol·L–1 in the north Amundsen Sea in subsurface water(75–150 m).The unmodified Circumpolar Deep Water with high AOU(>160μmol·L–1)could surge up to ca.150–200 m in both seas,with stronger intrusion in the Amundsen Sea.The AOU in bottom water was significantly lower(p<0.01)in the Cosmonaut Sea(118.9±11.8μmol·L–1)than the Amundsen Sea(141.7±7.4μmol·L–1),indicating the stable existence of fresh oxygen-rich Antarctic Bottom Water in the Cosmonaut Sea.

Effects of geomagnetic disturbances on humans functional state in space flight

Investigations of the effect of geomagnetic activity influence on the heart rhythm regulation of cosmonauts during the expeditions onboard the Soyuz spacecraft, and the MIR orbital space stations was carried out for various durations of flight in weightlessness and, under control of groups of cosmonauts who were inspected under flight conditions outside the geomagnetic disturbances and in ground preflight conditions, during disturbances and without them. The four series of analytical researches in which the data about changes of characteristics of heart rate variability are demonstrated for the first time the presence of specific effect of geomagnetic disturbances on the system of vegetative regulation of blood circulation of cosmonauts during the flight. The response of cosmonauts’ heart rhythm on the magnetic storm is depending on the initial functional background and, in particular, on the state of mechanisms of vegetative regulation (the duration of flight and adaptation to it).

Dissolved nutrient distributions in the Antarctic Cosmonaut Sea in austral summer 2021

Dissolved nutrients are essential to marine productivity and ecosystem structures in the Southern Ocean.The spatial distributions of dissolved nutrients in the Cosmonaut Sea were studied during the 37th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition in 2021.The relative standard deviations of the nitrate(NO_(3)-N),nitrite(NO_(2)-N),ammonium(NH_(4)-N),phosphate(PO_(4)-P),and silicate(SiO_(3)-Si)concentrations found in duplicate samples(n=2)were 1.01%,9.04%,6.45%,0.94%,and0.67%,respectively.The mean NO_(3)-N,NO_(2)-N,NH_(4)-N,PO_(4)-P,and SiO_(3)-Si concentrations in the mixed layer were 26.41±4.13,0.15±0.09,0.51±0.22,1.73±0.23,and 41.48±6.94μmol·L^(−1),respectively,and were higher than the relevant limitationconcentrations.The concentrations were generally bounded horizontally by the Southern Boundary(SB)of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current,the NO_(3)-N,NO_(2)-N,NH_(4)-N,and PO_(4)-P concentrations being higher northeast than southwest of the SB but the SiO_(3)-Si concentrations being higher southwest than northeast,indicating that the SB dominates nutrient distributions in themixed layer.The NO_(3)-N,NH_(4)-N,and PO_(4)-P concentrations gradually increased moving vertically down from the mixed layer to 200 m deep and then remained at 33.73±3.51,0.26±0.13,and 2.28±0.10μmol·L^(−1),respectively,to the bottom.The SiO_(3)-Si concentration increased as depth increased and reached a maximum in the bottom layer.The NO_(2)-N concentrationdecreased rapidly as depth increased and was~0μmol·L^(−1)at>150 m deep.Circumpolar Deep Water upwelling may cause high nutrient concentrations in shallower layers up to the 100 m layer between 62.5°S and 64°S.

Population size and distribution of seabirds in the Cosmonaut Sea,Southern Ocean

The Cosmonaut Sea is one of the less studied ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere.Unlike other seas which were near to coastal regions,however,few studies exist on the top predators in this zone.From December 2019 to January 2020,a survey of seabirds was carried out on the board icebreaker R/V Xuelong 2 in the Cosmonaut Sea and the Cooperation Sea.Twenty-three bird species were recorded.Antarctic petrel(Thalassoica antarctica),Antarctic prion(Pachyptila desolata),and Arctic tern(Sterna paradisaea)were the most abundant species.A total of about 37500 birds belonging to 23 species were recorded.Around 23%of the region had no record of birds.A large number of birds was recorded in 39°E-40°E,44°E-46°E and 59°E-60°E.Many areas,such as 33°E-35°E,39°E-41°E,44°E-46°E and 59°E-60°E show a great richness.More than two-thirds of seabirds(71%)were observed in the zone near the ocean front.The prediction of the distributions of the most dominant species Antarctic petrel also showed that the area near the ocean front region had an important ecological significance for seabirds.The results suggest that the distribution of seabirds in the Cosmonaut Sea is highly heterogenous.

Community structure of mesopelagic fauna and the length-weight relationships of three common fishes in the Cosmonaut Sea,Southern Ocean

This study used specimens of marine organisms caught by rectangular midwater trawl in the Cosmonaut Sea,Southern Ocean,in austral summer 2019/2020,to determine species composition and spatial distributions of mesopelagic fauna in this sea.The data were also used to calculate the length-weight relationships of three common fishes captured during the survey(Electrona antarctica,Bathylagus antarcticus,and Cyclothone microdon).A total of 385 individual organisms with a total weight of 15462.2 g and representing 17 species were collected across the 11 stations visited.The small-sized crown jellyfish Atolla wyvillei(order Coronatae)was the most-dominant species by number(96 individuals),and the zooplankton Cyllopus lucasii(Amphipoda)also showed high abundance(54 individuals).Among fishes,81 individuals of Notolepis coatsorum(Paralepididae)were caught,followed by 71 individuals of E.antarctica(Myctophidae),25 individuals of B.antarcticus(Bathylagidae),and 16 individuals of C.microdon(Gonostomatidae).Clustering analysis divided the mesopelagic community into“west”and“east”groups,and a greater number of individuals were collected in the western part of the sea.The length-weight relationships of the three common fishes revealed positive allometric growth for B.antarcticus(b=3.16),and negative allometric growth for E.antarctica and C.microdon(both b=2.53).Our descriptions of the mesopelagic-zone community structure and biological features of three common fishes provide basic information on the ecology of the Cosmonaut Sea,Southern Ocean,and will be useful for ecosystem-based fisheries management in this region.