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

• 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

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.