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The plankton of the Prince Edward Islands

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Summary

The Prince Edward Islands (47°S, 38°E) are situated very close to the border between the antarctic and subantarctic zones. There is, indeed, some difference of opinion whether this border, the Antarctic covergence or Polar front, should be drawn at 46° or 50°S (see “Discussion”). Deacon (1983) claims that the complexity of the currents in this area leads to more interchange and less clear gradation between Antarctic and subantarctic waters than in most longitudes. This is a study of the species composition, and a very rough estimate of the standing stock, of the plankton fauna of the waters surrounding the Prince Edward Islands during two surveys conducted by us in 1982 and 1983. They are compared with each other and with a third survey by Grindley and Lane in 1979 and data presented by Miller (1985). The plankton is mainly antiboreal (Systematic Account and Table 1). However, entrants of tropical, sub-tropical and antarctic origin are noted. The means of advection of these aliens into the region are hypothesized and it is further speculated that they may be, at times, relics of decayed biocoenoses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Brian P. Boden & Llewellyn D. Parker

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  1. Brian P. Boden
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  2. Llewellyn D. Parker
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Boden, B.P., Parker, L.D. The plankton of the Prince Edward Islands. Polar Biol 5, 81–93 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443380

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