Chukchi Sea Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (Comida): Hanna Shoal Ecosystem Study

Personal Author: Dunton KH; Ashjian C; Campbell RG; Cooper LW; Grebmeier JM; Harvey HR; Konar B; Maidment DM; Trefry JH; Weingartner TJ

Publication Title: Chukchi Sea Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (Comida): Hanna Shoal Ecosystem Study

Subject: Marine Biodiversity; Physical Oceanography
Marine Benthic Communities
COMIDA; Benthos; Chemistry; Hydrocarbons; Trace Metals; Infauna; Epifauna; Food Webs; Sediment; Hanna Shoal; Chukchi Sea; Arctic; Alaska

CSE Reference: Dunton KH, Ashjian C, Campbell RG, Cooper LW, Grebmeier JM, Harvey HR, Konar B, Maidment DM, Trefry JH, Weingartner TJ (University of Texas Marine Science Center, Port Aransas, TX). 2017. Chukchi Sea Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA): Hanna Shoal ecosystem study. Anchorage (AK): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 352 p. Obligation No.: M11AC00007. Report No.: OCS Study BOEM 2016-047. URL: https://espis.boem.gov/Final%20Reports/5631.pdf

Abstract: Collaborative research presented in this study builds upon efforts from prior BOEM studies (especially COMIDA-CAB) to provide baseline information on the Hanna Shoal region in the Northeastern Chukchi Sea. Scientific findings were integrated across several task teams, including ocean circulation and water mass properties; abundance and spatial distribution of zooplankton, benthic infauna and epifauna; sediment grain size composition and organic carbon, radioisotope, trace metal, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations; and organic carbon dynamics. These findings improve our understanding of the physical oceanography and biological productivity of this unique ecosystem.