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The
Project Hypothesis
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Glossary
words on this page (glossary words are shown in red):
accumulate:
gather together; increase gradually
hypothesis:
a possible explanation to be tested
phytoplankton:
small plants floating in the upper layer of the ocean
SIMCO:
sea ice microbial community
techniques:
methods
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Not much
is known about the processes that influence the entry of POPs into Antarctic
food webs. Based on their knowledge and experience, the scientists have
developed this hypothesis and research
plans:
The
scientists suggest that
- The
physical chemistry of POPs plus the seasonal change in the sea ice
causes the entry of POPs into the food web of the Antarctic coastal
waters.
The
scientists suggest that this happens because
- POPs
are transported by air from the places where they are produced and
used. The POPs land on the sea ice, where they accumulate
during the winter.
- When
the sea ice melts, POPs are released into the water. They enter the
SIMCO (Sea Ice Microbial Community) and
the food web during the time when phytoplankton
"bloom."
To test
these hypotheses, the scientific team will
- Take
samples of air, ice, water, and plankton from the Antarctic coastal
region during different seasons of the year.
- Analyze
the samples with a variety of chemical techniques.
- Measure
the amounts of POPs in these samples.
- Compare
the measurements taken during different seasons.
Previous
page: The Ecosystem and
Food Web of the Antarctic Peninsula
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