Abstract: Distribution, and abundances of the zooplankton community at site Jacobsen (40 m depth) near Dumont d’Urville Station (-66.39oS, 140.00oE) in the East Antarctic, Adélie Basin area are reported. The sampling period went from the 15th November 2015 to the 3rd of February 2016. Samples were taken in the water column over the course of the sea ice break-up and subsequent spring phytoplankton bloom. Environmental variables such as chlorophyll a, air temperature, salinity and temperature in the water column were measured and later sea ice extent and concentration data was acquired to make informed conclusions regarding the presence and abundance of zooplankton species. Oithona similis, Oncaea curvata, and Drescheriella glacialis were species found in high abundances. D. glacialis in particular was found within the sea ice.
Stable isotope analysis was conducted on samples of seawater particulate organic matter (POM), ice core POM, Oithona similis, Oncaea curvata, Pleuragramma antarcticum larvae, and adult Trematomus newnesi, Trematomus bernacchii, and Notothenia coriiceps. Where necessary samples were lipid extracted of lipid corrected to give appropriate ????13C and ????15N values. Known trophic enrichment factors were then used to construct a possible food chain in the lower trophic levels of a coastal Antarctic site.