Distributions of the Arctic sea ice biomarker proxy IP25and two phytoplanktonic biomarkers in surface sediments from West Svalbard

<p> The concentrations of the sea ice biomarker proxy IP25 (Ice Proxy with 25 carbon atoms) and two phytoplankton biomarkers (a tri-unsaturated highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) lipid (HBI III) and epi-brassicasterol) have been measured in surface sediments from West Svalbard. IP25 concentration exhibited a positive relationship with that of HBI III and epi-brassicasterol, suggesting that the rapidly fluctuating sea ice dynamics characteristic of West Svalbard have a similar impact on these sea ice and phytoplankton lipids, as hypothesised in earlier studies. Alternatively, the multi-year sedimentary signal may simply represent an integration of more subtle variations in biomarker distributions that reflect variability in sea ice conditions on a seasonal or annual timeframe. Our findings contrast with those reported previously for the Barents Sea, possibly due to the latter experiencing a more prominent and consistent sea ice advance/retreat cycle.</p>