Benthic mollusc assemblages in West Antarctica: taxa composition and ecological insights

• Published in: Marine and Freshwater Research
• Main Authors: Gordillo, Sandra, Malvé, Mariano Ezequiel, Morán, Ariana Gisela
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Csiro Publishing
• Subjects: MOLLUSC ASSEMBLAGES; ANTARCTICA; TAXA COMPOSITION; ECOLOGY; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Austral; West Antarctica; Argentina; Bray; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/44873

Although different studies in Antarctica have dealt with benthic communities, few studies have focused on molluscan assemblages and their ecology. During the austral summer of 2011, 17 stations between depths of 68.5 and 754 m were sampled in West Antarctica using a demersal bottom trawl pilot net on board RV ARA Puerto Deseado. In all, 1848 specimens of shelled molluscs were recorded. Gastropods were the most diverse group (species richness = 74) and bivalves were the most abundant (n = 1344). Shannon Wiener diversity index values ranged between 0.58 and 2.99, with great variation at different stations. Cluster analysis using the Bray Curtis coefficient showed three distinct assemblages types: one dominated by suspension feeders; a second with representatives from different trophic groups, including suspension feeders, grazers, scavengers, predators and deposit feeders; and a third, more differentiated, with few taxa and dominated by deposit feeders. Finally, multivariate analysis suggests that bivalves were more sensitive to temperature, whereas gastropods were more sensitive to depth. Fil: Gordillo, Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina Fil: Malvé, Mariano Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina Fil: Morán, Ariana Gisela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. ...