Abstract
The planktonic, ice/water interface, and benthic communities at three sites off the coast of the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica, were examined over a complete year.
The planktonic flora and fauna were composed predominantly of oceanic species with diatoms and copepods the numerically dominant groups. Primary production was largely restricted to the summer months except for epontic algae which developed in spring. The zooplankton exhibited a similar seasonal cycle but lagged some months behind that of the phytoplankton.
The ice/water interface (epontic) fauna consisted of species from the plankton and benthos. Copepods were major contributors; however, two amphipod species dominated. Seasonality of the fauna in this habitat was determined by ice formation and breakout, and development of ice algae.
Each of the benthic substrates supported a characteristic macrofaunal assemblage, although infaunal amphipods and tanaids were similar at each site. Infauna exhibited a distinct seasonal cycle related to that of the primary producers whereas macrofauna showed no seasonal changes in abundance.
Species composition of each community in this coastal antarctic region was comparable with that of similar habitats in other antarctic coastal areas, supporting the circumpolarity of antarctic marine communities.
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Tucker, M.J., Burton, H.R. The inshore marine ecosystem off the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica. Hydrobiologia 165, 129–139 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025580
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025580