Marine ecosystem monitoring in the sea-ice region of Lutzow-Holm Bay, off Syowa Station, during the icebreaker Shirase cruise of the 61st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

As part of the monitoring program of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE), marine ecological monitoring in the sea-ice region of Lutzow-Holm Bay, off Syowa Station, has been routinely carried out since JARE-52 (2010/11 season) to investigate biological production and mechanisms in relation to sea-ice. Water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration, macro-nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and silicate), and zooplankton data were collected at six stations in various sea-ice environments: fast-ice, pack-ice, and ice-free open ocean. The use of an "ice-fence" protected observation equipment (e.g., plankton nets and CTDs) from damage due to sea-ice.