Ecological patterns of Antarctic benthic communities and the biodiversity they harbour
[eng] The exploration of marine environments, especially the deep sea, has been an ongoing effort. With the majority of Earth’s surface covered by oceans, the invention of SCUBA and subsequent deep-sea expeditions has expanded our understanding of marine ecosystems. However, much of the ocean remain...
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Universitat de Barcelona
1482
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2445/212920 http://hdl.handle.net/10803/691425 |
| Summary: | [eng] The exploration of marine environments, especially the deep sea, has been an ongoing effort. With the majority of Earth’s surface covered by oceans, the invention of SCUBA and subsequent deep-sea expeditions has expanded our understanding of marine ecosystems. However, much of the ocean remains underexplored due to its vast depths. Understanding the biodiversity and functioning of marine ecosystems is crucial for developing effective management plans to protect the oceans. In this regard, this thesis aims to understand biodiversity from various perspectives and how it can vary depending on biological or abiotic factors. Utilizing non-invasive methods with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), we investigated benthic communities in the area located in front of the Filchner-Ronne Ice-Shelf, in the southernmost part of the Weddell Sea, and in the easternmost part of the same sea, specifically at Maud Rise and Astrid Ridge, covering a depth range from 251 to 1989 meters. Firstly, we examined the relationship between different demersal fish species and benthic communities comprised of various ecosystem engineers. The study demonstrated that the majority of observed fish species were positively associated with structurally complex ecosystems, with juvenile specimens predominantly found resting or hiding among the engineer organisms. Secondly, we described anthozoan communities on two seamounts and revealed significant biodiversity differences compared to the nearby plain and even between the two seamounts. The reason for these observed differences is partly due to the factor defined by the seamount itself, the region within it (summit vs. slope), the type of substrate and hydrodynamics. Lastly, with the aim of further understanding the biodiversity of one of these seamounts, a Chrysogorgia colony was sampled, revealing that the colony belonged to an undescribed species. After the recent review of this genus, it appears that this new species is the only representative of Chrysogorgia in the Southern Ocean. While ... |
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