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Environmental drivers of benthic communities and habitat heterogeneity on an East Antarctic shelf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2016

Alexandra L. Post ,
Caroline Lavoie ,
Eugene W. Domack ,
Amy Leventer ,
Amelia Shevenell ,
Alexander D. Fraser  and
the NBP 14-02 SCIENCE TEAM
Alexandra L. Post*
Affiliation:
Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Caroline Lavoie
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences/CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
Eugene W. Domack
Affiliation:
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Amy Leventer
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA
Amelia Shevenell
Affiliation:
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Alexander D. Fraser
Affiliation:
Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia Institute for Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
*
alix.post@ga.gov.au
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Abstract

This study presents the first analysis of benthic megafauna and habitats from the Sabrina Coast shelf, encompassing a proposed Marine Protected Area. Sea bed imagery indicated an abundant benthic fauna compared to other parts of the Antarctic shelf, dominated by brittle stars, polychaete tubeworms, and a range of other sessile and mobile taxa. The distribution of taxa was related (ρ=0.592, P<0.001) to variations in water depth, latitude, substrate type and phytodetritus. High phytodetritus cover was associated with muddy/sandy sediments and abundant holothurians and amphipods, while harder substrates hosted abundant brachiopods, hard bryozoans, polychaete tubeworms, massive and encrusting sponges, and sea whips. Brittle stars, irregular urchins and anemones were ubiquitous. Variations in substrate largely reflected the distribution of dropstones, creating fine-scale habitat heterogeneity. Several taxa were found only on hard substrates, and their broad regional distribution indicated that the density of dropstones was sufficient for most sessile invertebrates to disperse across the region. The hexactinellid sponge Anoxycalyx joubini and branching hydrocorals exhibited a more restricted distribution, probably related to water depth and limited dispersal capability, respectively. Dropstones were associated with significant increases in taxa diversity, abundance and biological cover, enhancing the overall diversity and biomass of this ecosystem.

Keywords

benthic habitatsbenthic megafaunabiophysical relationshipsdropstonesmarine protected areasubstrate type
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 17 - 32
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Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2016 

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