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Abundance and diversity of gastropods associated with dominant subtidal macroalgae from the western Antarctic Peninsula

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Abstract

Gastropod assemblages associated with eight common macroalgae from the hard-bottom subtidal communities near Palmer Station, western Antarctic Peninsula, were investigated in order to establish a species inventory and determine abundance, distribution, and diversity. Four different sites within the area were sampled. Using SCUBA, selected algae were gently removed from the substrate and enclosed in a fine mesh bag. Shortly thereafter, all epibionts were removed and preserved. Twenty-one different gastropod taxa were identified, two of which not to species level. A total of 3486 individuals were quantified with Skenella umbilicata the numerically dominant, followed by Laevilacunaria antarctica and Eatoniella calignosa. Most individuals (86 %) were <0.5-mm shell length; the largest specimens did not exceed 20-mm shell length. No difference in gastropod species abundance or species diversity was observed between the algal species. Mean densities of a given species of gastropod associated with a given algal species ranged from 0 to 38 individuals per 100 g wet wt of sampled alga with no discernable pattern of algal host preference. Additionally, no consistent pattern of gastropod community composition with either associated macroalgal species or collection site was demonstrated with a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis. Gastropods may, however, work in concert with other epibionts, in particular amphipod assemblages, to in some way benefit the host alga. Specifically, gastropods may contribute to enhancing the photosynthetic capacity of the host alga by grazing upon fouling epiphytic microalgae and emerging endophytic filaments.

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Acknowledgments

Field assistance from Anne Fairhead and Kevin Peters is gratefully acknowledged as well as the outstanding logistical support provided by employees Raytheon Polar Services Company while in Antarctica. Anonymous reviewers and Nicole Riddle provided valuable input greatly improving the manuscript. This research was supported by the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation to JBM and CDA (OPP-0125181; ANT-0838773; and ANT-1041022). JBM wishes to acknowledge the support of an Endowed University Professorship in Polar and Marine Biology provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Margaret O. Amsler, James B. McClintock & Charles D. Amsler

  2. Department of Marine Sports and Recreation, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Magong City, Penghu, 880, Taiwan

    Yusheng M. Huang

  3. Department of Aquaculture, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Magong City, Penghu, 880, Taiwan

    Yusheng M. Huang

  4. Rubensstraße 7, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Winfried Engl

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  1. Margaret O. Amsler
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  2. Yusheng M. Huang
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  3. Winfried Engl
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  4. James B. McClintock
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  5. Charles D. Amsler
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Correspondence to Margaret O. Amsler.

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Amsler, M.O., Huang, Y.M., Engl, W. et al. Abundance and diversity of gastropods associated with dominant subtidal macroalgae from the western Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 38, 1171–1181 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1681-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1681-4

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