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Enhancement of the benthic communities around an isolated island in the Antarctic Ocean

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Abstract

Insular marine biotas are often richer in faunal diversity than those from the open sea in the same geographical region. The existence of particular island effects were tested under polar conditions by comparing infaunal benthic assemblages on Peter I Island with those of similar latitudes in the open ocean at the Bellingshausen Sea and also from the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Sampling was carried out aboard the R/V Hespérides during the expedition named BENTART-2003 from 24 January to 3 March 2003. Benthic samples were collected at 18 stations ranging from 90 to 2 044 m depth, using an USNEL-type box corer (BC) dredge. Representatives of 32 higher taxa of invertebrates were found. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed various patterns in the data. First, significant differences in polychaete abundance were detected between the stations located in the open sea and the remaining sites (island plus mainland sites). Bivalve abundances were also distinct between island and mainland sampling sites. Sediment columns taken from the island seafloor exhibited the highest rate of bioturbation by the infauna. These findings confirm the model that islands develop distinct assemblages characterized by the enhancement of the benthic communities even in cold waters. Several abiotic factors were measured simultaneously at the seafloor and along the water column to investigate faunal distribution patterns. Significant correlations were found between the benthic assemblages and a combination of two environmental variables: “island effect” (measured as a categorical variable) and the redox state of sediments. Richer andmore complex benthic assemblages were found in Peter I Island’s sea bottom, whereas the more depauperate bottoms remained in the open sea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, 48080, Spain

    José I. Saiz

  2. Department of Organisms and Systems Biology (Zoology), University of Oviedo, Rodrigo Uría s/n, Oviedo, 33071, Spain

    Nuria Anadón

  3. Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Gijón Oceanographic Centre, Príncipe de Asturias 70bis, Gijón, 33212, Spain

    Javier Cristobo

  4. Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, South Campus, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Spain

    Oscar García-Alvarez

  5. Cantabrian Maritime Museum, San Martín de Bajamar s/n, Santander, 39004, Spain

    Gerardo García-Castrillo

  6. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain

    Eduardo López

  7. Department of Animal Biology, University of Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    Cruz Palacín

  8. Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Marine Sciences Faculty, University of Vigo, Vigo, 36310, Spain

    Jesús S. Troncoso

  9. Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Subida a Radio Faro 50-52, Vigo, 36390, Spain

    Ana Ramos

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  1. José I. Saiz
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  2. Nuria Anadón
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  3. Javier Cristobo
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  4. Oscar García-Alvarez
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  6. Eduardo López
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  7. Cruz Palacín
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  8. Jesús S. Troncoso
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  9. Ana Ramos
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Correspondence to José I. Saiz.

Additional information

Foundation item: The “BENTART-03” cruise was funded by the Antarctic Program REN2001-1074/ANT of the Spanish Government. The completion of the manuscript was aided by a grant “Acción Especial” from the University of Basque Country/EHU (Spain).

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Saiz, J.I., Anadón, N., Cristobo, J. et al. Enhancement of the benthic communities around an isolated island in the Antarctic Ocean. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 32, 47–55 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0321-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0321-5

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