Soft bottom sublittoral amphipod fauna of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Jażdżewska

AbstractThe present analysis is based on 140 quantitative samples collected from depths of 20 to 500 m in the central basin of Admiralty Bay and its inner shallow area, Ezcurra Inlet. One hundred and twenty species were identified, of which 47 species were new for Admiralty Bay. Mean density of crustaceans decreased with depth. Highest species richness was observed at depths of 50–100 m. Historical data and present investigations revealed distinct differences in the amphipod assemblages at different depths. In the subtidal zone, Gondogeneia antarctica was the dominant species; in the shallow sublittoral (down to ca 50 m) Prostebbingia gracilis and Hippomedon kergueleni played an important role. Below 50 m, the importance of phoxocephalid species increased.

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresinha M. Absher ◽  
Angela R. Feijó

Bivalve species were collected from shallow coastal areas of King George Island (Martel, Mackellar and Ezcurra Inlets of Admiralty Bay). Twenty one species belonging to 16 genera and 12 families were identified and their morphometric and morphological shell characteristics were described. Three main characteristics were found to be common to the majority of the bivalve species sampled: 1) thin fragile shells; 2) small size of individuals (76%), and 3) the lack of true cardinal teeth (72%). Comparison of calcium data from a tropical estuary and a subantarctic coastal shallow area suggested that the calcium in the sea water was not a constraint to shell building but shell thickness could be an adaptation to the efficiency of energy partitioning. Small individual size and the lack of true cardinal teeth are discussed in relation to a high deposition environment and widespread mud bottoms.


2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Pabis ◽  
Magdalena Błażewicz-paszkowycz

Distribution and diversity of cumacean assemblages in Admiralty Bay, King George IslandEleven species of cumaceans were found in 105 samples collected in Admiralty Bay (King George Island) in the summers of 1984/85 and 1985/86, from 20 to 500 m depth range. Four cumacean assemblages were distinguished using the multivariate analysis. They were characterized by the dominance of one or two species often with low density values. Two assemblages were found in open waters of Admiralty Bay. The first inhabited on sandy-clay-silt and silty-clay-sand bottom deposits in the depth range from 140 to 330 m, withCampylaspis maculata(1.6 ± 2.1 ind./0.1m2; F = 72.4%) andLeuconsp. (1.4 ± 1.6 ind./0.1m2; F = 68.9%) as key species. The second assemblage was found in the depth range from 50 to 120 m with silty-sand sediments, and it was characterized by the presence of Vauthompsonia inermis (6.5 ± 6.6 ind./0.1m2; F = 92.0%). A third assemblage was found in shallow waters influenced by glaciers in the bottom area of Ezcurra Inlet. It was characterized by sandy-clay-silt sediments and the presence ofEudorella splendida(14.6 ± 9.4 ind./0.1m2; F = 100.0%) as a core species. The last assemblage was found in the shallow sublittoral (50-100 m) of Ezcurra Inlet and the central basin, withDiastylis anderssoni armata(1.5 ± 1.1 ind./0.1m2; F = 85.7%) andDiastylopsis goekei(1.1 ± 1.0 ind./0.1m2; F = 71.4%) as the most frequent and abundant species.V. inermisis considered a eurytopic species with high frequency in the whole material, and was present in all four distinguished assemblages.E. splendidaandD. goekeiwere also recorded in each of the assemblages, but their total frequency was lower.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (SuplEsp) ◽  
pp. 59-84
Author(s):  
Diego Mojica ◽  
Carlos Cárdenas ◽  
Jhon Mojica ◽  
Fabian Brondi ◽  
Dalia Barragán ◽  
...  

I n the western Antarctic Peninsula one of the areas the highest warming in the southern hemisphere has been identified. To characterize this tendency, we selected the Lange Glacier (LG) on King George Island, to evaluate: 1) LG surface temperature and dynamics using stakes with temperature data loggers; 2) LG submerged thickness and sea parameters through bathymetry (BT) and 29 CTD stations in front of LG; 3) glacier front (GF) using BT and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM); 4) change in GF position using DEM and historical data of GF width; 5) Calving flux (QC). Our findings showed 85 % of temperatures were above the 0 °C melting point (mean = 5.0 ± 5.2 °C). The stakes had an average ice loss of 9.3 ± 1.3 cm. The LG mean dynamics was 8.8 ± 1.5 m (0.40 ± 0.70 m/day), corroborated by Sentinel-1 satellite images (Offset Tracking = 0.43 ± 0.01 m/day). An intrusion of external waters warmer in the LG bay was identified, which destabilizes the water column due to convection processes. Our findings together indicated a continuous glacial melt that increases its dynamics due to the increase in temperature, with a contribution of fresh water to the Admiralty Bay. Based on historical results and this study, the LG retracement was estimated in 2,492 m between 1956 and 2019.


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdzisław Laskowski ◽  
Małgorzata Korczak-Abshire ◽  
Krzysztof Zdzitowiecki

Changes in acanthocephalan infection of the Antarctic fishNotothenia coriicepsin Admiralty Bay, King George Island, over 29 yearsA comparison between the levels of infection with Acanthocephala of the fishNotothenia coriicepsin Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands, Antarctic) in 1978/79 and 2007/08 is presented. The same eight acanthocephalan species, three echinorhynchids maturing in fish,Aspersentis megarhynchus(dominant species),Metacanthocephalus johnstoni(subdominant species) andM. dalmori(common species), and five polymorphids maturing in mammals and birds,Corynosoma hamanni, C. pseudohamanni(both co-dominant species),C. arctocephaliandC. bullosum(both common species), andC. shackletoni(rare species), were found. Echinorhynchids were more numerous in 2007/08 (mean abundance 46.54 versus 35.35 in 1978/79), whereas polymorphids more numerous in 1978/79 (mean abundance 74.35versus36.40 in 2007/08). The overall results therefore demonstrated that echinorhynchids were more numerous than polymorphids in 2007/08 and the reverse was true in 1978/79. This situation is dependent mainly upon the decreased infections withC. hamanni, C. pseudohamanniandC. bullosum, and to a lesser degree upon the increasing of infections withM. johnstoni.The decrease of the threeCorynosomaspp. is possibly associated with the decreasing of populations of final hosts, seals, on the shore of Admiralty Bay in the vicinity ofArctowskiStation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Majewski ◽  
Andrzej Tatur

AbstractCribroelphidium webbi sp. nov. is the only adequately described sub-Recent elphidiid foraminifer from Antarctica. In Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands), it is found at several locations within inner fiord setting at water depths between 33 and 165 m, but most commonly shallower than 100 m. In outer basins this foraminifer is absent. In the cores analysed, C. webbi sp. nov. is present in well-constrained sub-Recent horizons that are clearly related to climate warming and deglaciation. These horizons represent a diachronous facies marker rather than a single stratigraphic layer. Cribroelphidium webbi sp. nov. shows clear association with retreating tidewater glaciers, therefore it is an important sensitive glacier-proximal indicator. It appears that it shares similar ecologic affinities with Cribroelphidium excavatum clavatum, which is widely distributed throughout the Arctic.


Author(s):  
Jose L. Rueda ◽  
Manuel Fernández-Casado ◽  
Carmen Salas ◽  
Serge Gofas

The macrofauna of molluscs associated with soft bottoms in the Bay of Cádiz (southern Spain) was studied monthly from February 1994 to January 1996. The number of species (63) is high for a soft bottom and is related to environmental characteristics (growth of macrophytes) and the biogeographical setting of the studied area. Corbula gibba (∼90%) was the dominant species in this taxocoenosis together with the gastropod Nassarius pygmaeus and the bivalves Pandora inaequivalvis, Parvicardium exiguum and Macoma melo. The most frequent species during the two years was also the bivalve Corbula gibba (100%) followed by the gastropods Nassarius pygmaeus, Tricolia tenuis, Rissoa membranacea and the bivalve Macoma melo. Total abundance of the taxocoenosis in both years reached higher values in spring. The dynamics of the ecological indices such as diversity or evenness, and the species richness showed a similar pattern in both years, with low values of diversity and evenness together with high species richness in spring and summer months and the reverse in autumn and winter. The qualitative correspondence analysis of monthly samples shows an ordination related to seasonality in both studied years, however the values of Jaccard's coefficient do not indicate significant boundaries among the monthly samples. The quantitative correspondence analysis shows an ordination and grouping of samples related to the biology of species, particularly with the recruitment of C. gibba, the dominant species. The existence of similar trends in the structure of the taxocoenoses over both years, and the seasonality highlighted by the qualitative correspondence analysis, seems to indicate a certain stability of the ecosystem.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alejandro Echeverría ◽  
Helena Passeri Lavrado ◽  
Lúcia Campos ◽  
Paulo Cesar de Paiva

A new Mini Box Corer (MBC-GEAMB) was developed for bottom sampling in Antarctic shallow waters down to 100 m depth from a small vessel. It consists of a detachable stainless steel box with a total sampling area of 0.0625 m², and a closing arm with a detachable blade without an external frame. MBC allowed stratified bottom sampling and good quality samples comparable to those obtained through diving. A comparison between the MBC-GEAMB and a 0.056 m²van Veen grab (VV) was undertaken for the benthic macrofaunal composition in Admiralty Bay, King George Island (Antarctica). MBC and VV samples were taken from three depths (20, 30 and 60m) in two sites. Total densities sampled with the MBC were up to 10 times higher than those obtained with van Veen grab. VV samples might lead to faunistic abundance underestimation compared to the MBC samples. Besides, MBC showed a higher performance on discriminating different sites as regards total macrofaunal density. It is suggested that MBC could be employed as an efficient remote sampling device for shallow-waters where direct sampling by SCUBA was not advisable.


Author(s):  
E. Prato ◽  
F. Biandolino

This study was carried out to determine the amphipod fauna in Mar Piccolo, Mar Grande and the Gulf of Taranto. Material in this study was obtained from 96 stations at different depths (maximum depth: −50 m) using various methods depending on the substrata. A total of 65 species was determined and 25 species are new records in the seas of Taranto. Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, Ericthonius brasiliensis, Monocorophium insidiosum, Elasmopus rapax, Gammarus aequicauda, Gammarus insensibilis, Leucothoe spinicarpa, Lysianassa costae and Pseudoprotella phasma were the dominant species and have been found in all areas considered. The comparison of the data shows that the area examined presents a high difference regarding biocenotic index. The highest number of species was collected in the Gulf with 1944 individuals, belonging to 58 species and 19 families, followed by Mar Grande with 1448 individuals belonging to 36 species and 11 families; finally Mar Piccolo with 698 individuals, 12 species and 6 families, in the First Inlet and 546 individuals, 18 species and 6 families, in the Second Inlet.


2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Pabis ◽  
Jacek Siciński

Is polychaete diversity in the deep sublittoral of an Antarctic fiord related to habitat complexity?Seventy-six species of Polychaeta were found in 19 quantitative samples collected in the deep sublittoral (200-500 m) of Admiralty Bay (South Shetlands). Three assemblages were distinguished by similarity analysis (clustering, nMDS). The soft bottom in depths from 200 to 300m was strongly dominated byMaldane sarsi antarcticaand had very low species richness and diversity. The second assemblage was distinguished in the areas of the sea floor in the same depth range but with aggregations of Ascidiacea and Bryozoa. It was again characterized by high abundance ofMaldane sarsi antarctica, but showed significantly higher species richness and diversity. Diversity of polychaete feeding guilds was also high in these areas. This pattern was probably associated with an increased habitat complexity due to the presence of dense aggregations of large suspension feeders. High species richness and diversity was also noted in the third assemblage, associated with the deepest sublittoral (400-500 m) of Admiralty Bay. This is the area characterized by very stable environmental conditions, where the assemblage was dominated byTharyx cincinnatus, Sternaspissp.,Maldane sarsi antarctica, andAsychis amphiglypta.


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