Feeding activity in shallow water marine benthos at Ryder Bay, Antarctica, 1997-2005

• Main Authors: Clarke, Andrew, Peat, Helen, Chapman, Alice, Beaumont, Jennifer, Piper, Raynor, Miller, Andrew, Mann, Paul
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre 2021
• Subjects: "EARTH SCIENCE","BIOSPHERE","ECOSYSTEMS","MARINE ECOSYSTEMS","BENTHIC"; "EARTH SCIENCE","BIOSPHERE","ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS","SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS","USE/FEEDING HABITATS"; Benthos; Feeding; Seasonality; Ryder; Ryder Bay; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5285/159edb0c-15d4-4d2b-ba49-fbd69f2e1a66; https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01543

Measures of feeding activity in 17 species of shallow water marine benthos, as assessed visually by SCUBA divers. The aim of the study was to determine the seasonal and interannual variability in feeding activity. Data were taken once or twice a month over the period from October 1997 to May 2005. Not all species were monitored for the entire duration of the study, and the number of observations per species ranged from 21 to 133. : Feeding was assessed visually by SCUBA divers. Individuals or colonies of selected benthic species were scored for the number visible and the number of those that were feeding. Feeding was assessed by the extent to which feeding tentacles were visibly extended into the water, and for some species a distinction was made between full and partial extension of the feeding tentacles. Data were stored in a simple flat-field database. At the end of the study the data were validated and analysed with standard statistical software to determine seasonal and interannual variability in feeding activity. Note: for species Laternula elliptica and Edwardsiella sp the Observed and Partial columns contain -9999, indicating missing data. In these species non-feeding individuals were entirely invisible so the data recorded were simply the number of individuals observed feeding within the fixed quadrat on that date. : Suspension feeding benthos are sensitive to disturbance, and may retract their feeding tentacles if disturbed by an observer or passing predator. A small number of cases where this may have influenced the data are indicated in the comments section of the data set.