Hi Mary Anne!

So I learned from my mission there is a huge link between the amount of nutrient in the water and the presence of producers in the water. I am guessing that the little auks are such a HUGE presence that their poop must fertilize the water.

So what is in their poop? Does it depend on the season of the year? Or what they eat? Can you ask the scientists to give a sample food web (flow of energy from the sun into algae or diatoms and then...) so I could compare it with a similar species in the Bering Sea?

Thank you so much for all your hard work! I look forward to learning with you as you continue your mission:)

warmly,

Maggie 

 

Mary Anne Pell…

Ann does not know what research data is available about sea water fertilization. One of the easy ways to initially scan the hills for a Little auk colony is to look for green meadows below boulder fields. The poop is a tremendous source of fertilization for the slopes below the colony. This fertilized ground grows a variety of both annuals and perennials. This vegetation, in turn, supports a variety of insects, which allow other insects, birds and other organisms to survive in this harsh environment.
Little auks themselves feed solely on various species of zooplankton. This is one of the reasons they are so important to learn about. When the zooplankton availability changes, Little auks will be affected. Some of the zooplankton are herbivores, omnivores and some are carnivores. One of Ann Harding’s colleagues Nina Karnovsky of Pomona College in California focuses on zooplankton research.
You can visit her website, this may provide more information.
I look forward to our classes connecting. Take care.