SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF MICROPLANKTON RESPIRATION IN THE ROSS SEA (ANTARCTICA) DURING AUSTRAL SPRING

Respiratory electron transport system (ETS) measurements of the microplankton were performed along a south-north transect from themarginal ice zone (MIZ) to the pack ice-covered zone. ETS activity ranged from 0.14 to 1.47 ml O2h-1m-3(mean value ±SD: 0.85 ±0.35ml O2h-1m-3) under the ice and from 0.17 to 2.81ml O2h-1m-3(mean value ±SD: 1.47 ±0.80 ml O2h-1m-3) in the marginal ice zone.The MIZ ecosystem was net autotrophic (P/R>1) while the pack ice zone was net hetertrophic (P/R<1).