Biodiversity and biogeography of hydroids across marine ecoregions and provinces of southern South America and Antarctica

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Miranda, Thais P., Fernandez, Marina Olga, Genzano, Gabriel Nestor, Peña Cantero, Alvaro, Collins, Allen, Marques, Antonio C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
• Subjects: Hydroids; Biogeography; SW Atlantic; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.7; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Antarctic; Argentina; Fernandez; Nestor; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Biology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/235810

To better understand the biodiversity-biogeographic polar connections between southern South America and Antarctica (SSA & A), we used benthic communities of hydroids as a model to investigate marine assemblages by evaluating classic spatial divisions at diferent geographical resolutions. Using a georeferenced dataset of 249 species and multivariate analyses, we investigated species’ distribution, composition and biogeographic connectivity, and defned assemblages of ecoregions and provinces for the area. Hotspots of rich biodiversity at risk of depletion were defned. Analyses of ecoregions have a more stratifed biogeographic structure, and reveal critical regions susceptible to loss of diversity. Analyses of provinces show a clear division between Atlantic-Pacifc and Antarctic-Subantartic assemblages, with high biogeographic isolation of the Subantarctic islands. Depending on spatial resolution, the biogeographic position of the Magellan area is spatially contradictory, clustering on the one hand with SSA ecoregions and on the other with Antarctic provinces. Our patterns appear to be driven by diferent combinations of processes and barriers, refected in the stratifed distribution of hydroids. The high level of endemism and concentration of species at the edge of distribution in the Magellan area and Scotia Arc suggest their transitional nature and particular importance for understanding the historical and ecological connections between SSA & A. Fil: Miranda, Thais P. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; Brasil Fil: Fernandez, Marina Olga. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Genzano, Gabriel Nestor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar ...