In such an extreme scenario, the increased melt water input from Greenland and high-Arctic glaciers might slow' down the conveyor belt effect with major repercussions for the Gulf Stream. The increased w'ater volume would alter patterns of ocean mixing by down welling water masses, weakening the oxygen transport to the deep sea. Moreover, the altered patterns of ocean mixing by down welling water masses could reduce nutrient availability in surface w'ater layers (Steinacher et al., Evidence was found from marine Arctic ecosystems where rising temperatures resulting in freshening of surface waters from melting glaciers were able to initiate significant changes in lower/middle trophic food chains, and alter the quantity and quality of food supply to upper trophic levels (Wassmann et al.,