In addition to paleoceanographic studies, this project also examines the modern Bering-Chukchi Sea continental shelf regions to evaluate climate-driven ecosystem changes over the last 40 years. The central-northern Bering Sea, located in a transition zone between temperate and Arctic climatic zones, exhibits complex spatial and temporal oceanographic variability. This work uses temperature-sensitive ostracode species as monitors of ecosystem changes driven by climatic processes. Figure 5 shows surface sediments collected during Bering and Chukchi Sea research cruises that were analyzed to examine ostracode faunal assemblages and ecosystem changes over the past 40 years.

Figure 5.
Figure from Gemery et al., submitted.
Figure modified from: International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO)
Further reading, see Grebmeier 2012