Feeding ecology of benthic filter-feeders at Potter Cove, an Antarctic coastal ecosystem

A rich benthic filter-feeding community is present at Potter Cove, South Shetland, in spite of some usually unfavorable conditions affecting their feeding ecology, such as low phytoplankton production in summer and high sedimentation rates. However, organic material that could fuel the benthic syste...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fuentes, Verónica Lorena, Esnal, Graciela Beatriz
Language:unknown
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Antarctica
Assimilation
Cnemidocarpa verrucosa
Coupling
Filter-feeder
Laternula elliptica
Particle flux
Pyura setosa
benthos
coastal zone
community dynamics
estimation method
feeding ecology
filter feeder
food availability
phytoplankton
primary production
sedimentation
King George Island
Potter Cove
South Shetland Islands
Ascidia
Ascidiacea
Bivalvia
Antarctic
Argentina
Antarc*
Online Access:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_07224060_v31_n4_p509_Tatian
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_07224060_v31_n4_p509_Tatian
Description
Summary:A rich benthic filter-feeding community is present at Potter Cove, South Shetland, in spite of some usually unfavorable conditions affecting their feeding ecology, such as low phytoplankton production in summer and high sedimentation rates. However, organic material that could fuel the benthic system, such as macroalgal fragments, was detected in the water-bottom interface year-round. Mean assimilation efficiency of several sizes of macroalgal particles under different inorganic particulate percentages varied between 26-51% in a clam, and 26-72% in two ascidian species. Estimated particle flux (feces) produced by ascidians varied according to species and abundance. The C:N ratio of feces was relatively high. Plasticity and profit from the available food sources contribute to the success of the filter-feeding community in Potter Cove. © 2007 Springer-Verlag. Fil:Fuentes, V.L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Esnal, G.B. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

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