Spatial patterns of summer demersal fish assemblages around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Llompart, Facundo, Delpiani, Matías, Lattuca, Eugenia, Delpiani, Gabriela, Cruz-Jiménez, Adriana, Orlando, Paula, Ceballos, Santiago, Díaz De Astarloa, Juan Martín, Vanella, Fabián, Fernández, Daniel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2014
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; South Shetland Islands; Gerlache; Gerlache Strait; Biscoe; George Islands; King George Islands; Antarc*; Antarctic Science
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000352; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102014000352

Abstract During the research programme conducted on the OV Puerto Deseado in the summers of 2011 and 2013, 36 stations were sampled using a demersal net at depths between 53–590 m in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. A total 3378 fish specimens belonging to 36 species were recorded. Notothenidae was the best-represented family in species number, with Lepidonotothen nudifrons , L. larseni and Trematomus scotti being the most numerous species. Of the fish assemblages, 20% of the species were considered as dominant, 10% as common, 13% as occasional and 57% as rare. Six groups (and two sub-groups) were obtained by the ordination diagram based on geographical location: group 1=Gerlache Strait, group 2=Deception Islands, group 3=Biscoe Island, group 4=between Elephant and King George islands, group 5=northern Antarctic Peninsula, and group 6=South Shetland Islands, with sub-groups 6a shallower South Shetland Islands and 6b deeper South Shetland Islands. Sampling depth and water temperature significantly explained the spatial pattern. A latitudinal pattern of decreasing abundance from north-east to south-west was found in L . larseni and the opposite in T . scotti . The predictability of fish composition in the assemblages’ areas could be a useful tool for ecosystem-based management.