Variability in the macrozooplankton community off the Antarctic Peninsula

• Main Authors: Siegel, Volker, Piatkowski, Uwe
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1990
• Subjects: Text; ddc:630; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarc*; Euphausia superba; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://www.openagrar.de/receive/timport_mods_00016345; https://www.openagrar.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/timport_derivate_00048539/dn047138.pdf

This paper presents an analysis of zooplankton net sampling surveys carried out during four expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula region. Cluster analysis documented two to three site groupings for the epipelagic zone and one mesopelagic site cluster below 200 to 300 m depth. Analysis of species dominance, constancy, diversity and evenness indices did not allow clear designation and separation of communities in terms of these parameters. Computation of a rank correlation matrix for each season allowed the characterization of species groups. There were no perfect indicator species in the very strict sense. The main differences in the composition of the zooplankton between the site clusters were due mainly to changes in abundance rather than to presence or absence of particular species. However, the interpretation of the complex species and site groupings led to the conclusion that we can define three distinct communities: an oceanic, a neritic, and a mesopelagic community beneath 200 to 300 m. A so-called transitional cluster represents a mixing zone created by frequent occurrence of species from both the oceanic and neritic community. The location of the described oceanic and neritic community sites seem to be relatively stable with minor latitudinal changes during the seasons, while occurrence and abundance of most species changes with the time of the year. The usefulness of particular species (e.g. Euphausia superba) as indicator species also change during the year.