eCite Digital Repository
Algal canopy as a proxy for the disturbance history of understorey communities in East Antarctica
Citation
Clark, GF and Stark, JS and Perrett, LA and Hill, Nicole and Johnston, EL, Algal canopy as a proxy for the disturbance history of understorey communities in East Antarctica, Polar Biology, 34, (6) pp. 781-790. ISSN 1432-2056 (2011) [Refereed Article]
 | PDF Restricted - Request a copy 380Kb |
Copyright Statement
Copyright © Springer-Verlag 2010 The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00300-010-0931-8
Abstract
Much of the macroalgal zonation on Antarctic
coasts is thought to be maintained by ice scour. The frequency
and severity of ice scour typically decrease with
depth, which is hypothesized to drive the zonation of two
canopy-forming macroalgae, Desmarestia menziesii and
Himantothallus grandifolius. If true, understorey communities
should share the same history of ice scour as their
respective canopies, and their composition should vary
accordingly. To evaluate this prediction we collected
boulders from under each canopy species at two depths, 6
and 12 m, at two sites on the coast of East Antarctica. We
examined the hard-substrate communities growing on
boulders and tested for differences in community composition
with respect to canopy species, surface orientation,
and depth. Communities under the different canopies
showed some variation consistent with the hypothesized
difference in disturbance history. Those under H. grandifolius
accommodated a greater abundance and diversity
of sponges, which is usually characteristic of older, later
successional communities. Differences were subtle, however,
suggesting that canopies might be maintained by ice
disturbance over large temporal scale relative to those at
which understorey communities develop, and/or that canopies
themselves influence understorey composition. This
study describes patterns associated with one of the most
prominent examples of bathymetric zonation in shallow
Antarctic benthos, and experimental work is now needed to
partition the processes at work.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Boulder Hard-substrate Invertebrates Desmarestia menziesii Himantothallus grandifolius |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Coastal and estuarine systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Hill, Nicole (Dr Nicole Hill) |
| ID Code: | 72129 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 9 |
| Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
| Deposited On: | 2011-08-22 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-04-05 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page