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Antarctic sympagic meiofauna in winter: Comparing diversity, abundance and biomass between perennially and seasonally ice-covered regions
Citation
Kramer, M and Swadling, KM and Meiners, KM and Kiko, R and Scheltz, A and Nicolaus, M and Werner, I, Antarctic sympagic meiofauna in winter: Comparing diversity, abundance and biomass between perennially and seasonally ice-covered regions, Deep-Sea Research. Part 2: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 58, (9-10) pp. 1062-1074. ISSN 0967-0645 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyrigh 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.10.029
Abstract
This study of Antarctic sympagic meiofauna in pack ice during late winter compares communities between the perennially ice-covered western Weddell Sea and the seasonally ice-covered southern Indian Ocean. Sympagic meiofauna (proto- and metazoans ) and eggs were studied in terms of diversity, abundance and carbon biomass, and with respect to vertical distribution. Metazoan meiofauna had significantly higher abundance and biomass in the western Weddell Sea (medians: 31.1×103 m−2 and 6.53 mg m−2, respectively) than in the southern Indian Ocean (medians: 1.0×103 m−2 and 0.06 mg m−2, respectively). Metazoan diversity was also significantly higher in the western Weddell Sea. Furthermore, the two regions differed significantly in terms of meiofauna community composition, as revealed through multivariate analyses. The overall diversity of sympagic meiofauna was high, and integrated abundance and biomass of total meiofauna were also high in both regions (0.6–178.6×103 m−2 and 0.02–89.70 mg m−2, respectively), mostly exceeding values reported earlier from the northern Weddell Sea in winter. We attribute the differences in meiofauna communities between the two regions to the older first-year ice and multi-year ice that is present in the western Weddell Sea, but not in the southern Indian Ocean. Our study indicates the significance of perennially ice-covered regions for the establishment of diverse and abundant meiofauna communities. Furthermore, it highlights the potential importance of sympagic meiofauna for the organic matter pool and trophic interactions in sea ice.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Antarctica, sea ice, meiofauna |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Swadling, KM (Associate Professor Kerrie Swadling) |
| UTAS Author: | Meiners, KM (Dr Klaus Meiners) |
| ID Code: | 75537 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 15 |
| Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
| Deposited On: | 2012-02-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-07-03 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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