Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Abstract Climate-related disturbance regimes are changing rapidly with profound consequences for ecosystems. Disturbance is often perceived as detrimental to biodiversity; however, the literature is divided on how they influence each other. Disturbance events in nature are diverse, occurring across...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:776137d1d6dc4f518ed2a949738db31e 2023-05-15T13:47:39+02:00 Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula B. J. O. Robinson D. K. A. Barnes L. J. Grange S. A. Morley 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 https://doaj.org/article/776137d1d6dc4f518ed2a949738db31e EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/776137d1d6dc4f518ed2a949738db31e Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2021) Medicine R Science Q article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 2022-12-31T07:21:40Z Abstract Climate-related disturbance regimes are changing rapidly with profound consequences for ecosystems. Disturbance is often perceived as detrimental to biodiversity; however, the literature is divided on how they influence each other. Disturbance events in nature are diverse, occurring across numerous interacting trophic levels and multiple spatial and temporal scales, leading to divergence between empirical and theoretical studies. The shallow Antarctic seafloor has one of the largest disturbance gradients on earth, due to iceberg scouring. Scour rates are changing rapidly along the Western Antarctic Peninsula because of climate change and with further changes predicted, the Antarctic benthos will likely undergo dramatic shifts in diversity. We investigated benthic macro and megafaunal richness across 10–100 m depth range, much of which, 40–100 m, has rarely been sampled. Macro and megafauna species richness peaked at 50–60 m depth, a depth dominated by a diverse range of sessile suspension feeders, with an intermediate level of iceberg disturbance. Our results show that a broad range of disturbance values are required to detect the predicted peak in biodiversity that is consistent with the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, suggesting ice scour is key to maintaining high biodiversity in Antarctica’s shallows. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Iceberg* Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Scientific Reports 11 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
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English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q B. J. O. Robinson D. K. A. Barnes L. J. Grange S. A. Morley Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract Climate-related disturbance regimes are changing rapidly with profound consequences for ecosystems. Disturbance is often perceived as detrimental to biodiversity; however, the literature is divided on how they influence each other. Disturbance events in nature are diverse, occurring across numerous interacting trophic levels and multiple spatial and temporal scales, leading to divergence between empirical and theoretical studies. The shallow Antarctic seafloor has one of the largest disturbance gradients on earth, due to iceberg scouring. Scour rates are changing rapidly along the Western Antarctic Peninsula because of climate change and with further changes predicted, the Antarctic benthos will likely undergo dramatic shifts in diversity. We investigated benthic macro and megafaunal richness across 10–100 m depth range, much of which, 40–100 m, has rarely been sampled. Macro and megafauna species richness peaked at 50–60 m depth, a depth dominated by a diverse range of sessile suspension feeders, with an intermediate level of iceberg disturbance. Our results show that a broad range of disturbance values are required to detect the predicted peak in biodiversity that is consistent with the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, suggesting ice scour is key to maintaining high biodiversity in Antarctica’s shallows. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
B. J. O. Robinson D. K. A. Barnes L. J. Grange S. A. Morley |
author_facet |
B. J. O. Robinson D. K. A. Barnes L. J. Grange S. A. Morley |
author_sort |
B. J. O. Robinson |
title |
Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
title_short |
Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full |
Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
Intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the Western Antarctic Peninsula |
title_sort |
intermediate ice scour disturbance is key to maintaining a peak in biodiversity within the shallows of the western antarctic peninsula |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 https://doaj.org/article/776137d1d6dc4f518ed2a949738db31e |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Iceberg* |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Iceberg* |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/776137d1d6dc4f518ed2a949738db31e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96269-9 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
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11 |
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1 |
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1766247597934116864 |