Glacier retreat effects on the distribution of benthic assemblages in Martel Inlet (Admiralty Bay, Antarctica)

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
• Main Authors: MONICA A.V. PETTI, PAULA F. GHELLER, SANDRA BROMBERG, PAULO C. PAIVA, MICHEL M. MAHIQUES, THAIS N. CORBISIER
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2023
• Subjects: Benthic ecology; Climate change; Glacier influence; King George Island; Science; Q; Admiralty Bay; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Martel; Martel Inlet; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320210622; https://doaj.org/article/fe8ddb37632f404190098cbefdc15da2

Abstract The Antarctic environment has special characteristics that influence the local marine life. The benthic organisms, adapted to these extreme conditions of life, are subject nowadays to effects of climate change. Recently, the consequences of glacier retreat on these assemblages have been observed in many West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) regions, including King George Island (KGI). This study described the spatial variation of the benthic macrofauna in different areas of the Martel Inlet (Admiralty Bay - KGI), at depths around 25-30 m. Sampling was done in January 2001 at ten stations classified in localities according to their proximity to ice-margin/coastline in marine-terminating glacier (MTG), terrestrial-terminating glacier (TTG) and ice-free area (IFA). The total density and the abundance of annelids, nematodes, peracarid crustaceans and bivalves were higher at IFA stations. The locality discrimination by taxa and species was independent of available environmental/sedimentary conditions or was the result of unmeasured variables or species life history processes not assessed herein. Considering that our findings were obtained 21 years ago, they will be especially useful for comparing future studies of benthic assemblage responses to the influence of climate change and continuous glacier retreats in the WAP region.