The Chukchi Sea has recently experienced increased water temperatures, increased advection of water from the Bering Sea, declines in sea-ice concentration, and shorter periods of ice coverage. These physical changes are expected to impact trophic food-webs and ecosystem attributes. In this study, a series of research surveys were conducted in the summers of 2011–2015 to characterize the physical environment and its relation to the abundance of large zooplankton. Large zooplankton are key prey for many higher trophic level organisms including seabirds, marine mammals, and fishes. Yearly advection from the Bering Sea influenced the adult large zooplankton abundance, but this influence was less apparent in the earlier development stages. Known development times of stages of zooplankton, along with their location within the study area, suggested that a fraction of the zooplankton standing stock was the result of local production. Decreased advection and later ice retreat resulted in higher abundances of the lipid-rich copepod Calanus glacialis. Warmer conditions with increased advection from the Bering Sea resulted in higher abundances of euphausiids. Warming, sea-ice melting, and increases in transport of Bering Sea water and plankton into the Chukchi Sea are ongoing, and changes in food-web structure are likely to result.

楚科奇海最近的水温升高，白令海的水流增加，海冰浓度下降，冰覆盖期缩短。这些物理变化有望影响营养性食物网和生态系统属性。在本研究中，2011-2015年夏季进行了一系列研究调查，以描述自然环境及其与大型浮游动物数量的关系。大型浮游动物是许多高营养水平生物（包括海鸟，海洋哺乳动物和鱼类）的主要猎物。白令海每年的平流影响成年大型浮游动物的丰度，但是这种影响在早期的发展阶段就不那么明显了。浮游动物各阶段的已知发育时间及其在研究区内的位置，这表明浮游动物常备种群的一小部分是当地生产的结果。平流减少，后来退冰导致富含脂质的co足类动物的丰度更高冰川。白令海对流增加带来的更温暖的条件导致了丰富的金黄色葡萄球菌。气候变暖，海冰融化以及白令海水和浮游生物向楚科奇海的运输不断增加，食物网结构可能发生变化。