IR Home
MEPS
Home
Editors
Forthcoming
Information
Subscribe
Journals
Home
MEPS
AME
CR
DAO
ESEP
ESR
Search
Subscribe
Book Series
EE Books
Top Books
ESEP Books
Order
EEIU Brochures
(pdf format)
Discussion Forums
Home
Research
IR Research
Institutions
International Ecology Institute
Eco-Ethics International Union
Foundation
Otto Kinne Foundation
 | |
MEPS 278:1-16 (2004)
|
Abstract
|
Recovery in Antarctic benthos after iceberg disturbance: trends in benthic composition, abundance and growth forms
N. Teixidó1,3,*, J. Garrabou2, J. Gutt1, W. E. Arntz1
1Alfred Wegener Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Columbusstraße, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
2Marine d'Endoume, Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, rue Batterie des Lions, 13007 Marseille, France
3Present address: Institut de Ciències del Mar (CMIMA-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
*Email: nteixido@icm.csic.es
ABSTRACT: The response of an Antarctic benthic community to iceberg disturbance was investigated using underwater photographs (1 m2 each) on the SE Weddell Sea shelf. This study: (1) characterises composition, coverage, number of patches and
area of sessile benthic fauna, (2) describes faunal heterogeneity using MDS ordination and identifies 'structural taxa' of each recovery stage, and (3) analyses changes of growth-form patterns during Antarctic recovery. We observed changes in the space
occupation of benthic organisms along the recolonisation stages. Uncovered sediment characterised the early stages ranging from 98 to 91% of the coverage. The later stages showed high (70.5%) and intermediate (52.5%) values of benthic coverage, where
demosponges, bryozoans and ascidians exhibited a high number of patches and taxa. Several 'structural species' were identified among the stages, and information is provided on their coverage, number of patches and area. Overall, maximum areas of patches
increased as recovery proceeded. Early stages were characterised by the presence of pioneer taxa, which only partly covered the bottom sediment but were locally abundant (e.g. the bryozoan Cellarinella spp. and the gorgonian Primnosis
antarctica with a maximum coverage of 13 and 3%, and 51 and 30 patches m-2, respectively). Soft bush-like bryozoans, sheet-like sabellid polychaetes, and tree-like sponges, gorgonians, bryozoans and ascidians were the first colonisers.
Mound-like sponges and ascidians as well as tree-like organisms with a long lifespan and different reproductive strategies defined the late stages. We conclude by comparing the selected 'structural species' and relating their life-history traits to
differences in distribution in the course of Antarctic recovery.
KEY WORDS: Antarctica · Benthic communities · Disturbance · Growth forms · Life-history traits · Recovery · Underwater photography · GIS
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
278
(2004) on September 6
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004
|
