ABSTRACT
In 1971, El-Sayed (1971a) reviewed the biological aspects of
the pack ice ecosystem. He concluded that, “despite the
valuable information we now have concerning the taxonomy,
distribution and abundance of marine organisms in the pack
ice zone, there are still enormous gaps in our knowledge of
the biomass and relative abundance of these organisms.
.Further our data is poor with regard to the relationships
between the trophic levels and the flow of energy through the
Antarctic pack ice.” Apart from isolated observations,
particularly of phytoplankton on blooms (Burkholder and
Mandelli 1965; El-Sayed 1971b; El-Sayed and Taguchi
1981) it was not until recently that multidisciplinary research
programs have been directed at understanding the quan-
titative relationships of the flora, fauna and energy flow in
the pack ice ecosystem. The Group of Specialists on
Southern Ocean Ecosystems and Their Living Resources
stressed, early in their deliberations, the importance of
pack ice zone studies, and particularly studies of processes
occurring at the edge of the retreating ice. The group
recommended that such investigations be included in the
BIOMASS Program.
