Observations of the ophiuroids from the West Antarctic sector of the Southern Ocean

Abstract Ophiuroids are a conspicuous and often dominant component of the Antarctic continental shelf benthos. Here we report on the ophiuroids collected from the Burdwood Bank, off the Patagonian Shelf, through the shallow water areas of the Scotia Arc, down the west Antarctic Peninsula and as far...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Sands, Chester J., Griffiths, Huw J., Downey, Rachel V., Barnes, David K.A., Linse, Katrin, Martín-Ledo, Rafael
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2012
Subjects:
Amundsen Sea
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Science
Pine Island Bay
Southern Ocean
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102012000612
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102012000612
Description
Summary:Abstract Ophiuroids are a conspicuous and often dominant component of the Antarctic continental shelf benthos. Here we report on the ophiuroids collected from the Burdwood Bank, off the Patagonian Shelf, through the shallow water areas of the Scotia Arc, down the west Antarctic Peninsula and as far south as Pine Island Bay in the eastern Amundsen Sea. This preliminary and primarily pattern based study identifies some regional differences in assemblages and highlights the role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as a barrier, as well as a facilitator, to dispersal. In order to effectively compare between studies we highlight the need for accurate, expert taxonomic identification of specimens.

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