Ophiuroid community structure of the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula region

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Manjón-Cabeza, María Eugenia, Ramos, Ana
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Pesquerías; Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; South Shetland Islands; Antarctic Ocean; Deception Island; Livingston Island; Trinity Island; Antarc*; Polar Biology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/10084; http://hdl.handle.net/10261/328813; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0539-3

During the BENTART 95 survey, epifauna was sampled with an Agassiz trawl at 24 stations ranging from north of Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands) to the Antarctic Peninsula at depths from 40 to 850 m. Four assemblages of ophiuroids were identified and correspond to Deception Island, Trinity Island, and the southern and northern zones of Livingston Island. In addition to these regions, gradients related to depth and filter-feeder biomass were found. The brittle-star assemblages were dominated by Ophionotus victoriae Bell, 1902, which to a large extent determine the biogeographic structure in the South Shetland Islands. SI