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Biodiversity, distribution and community structure of benthic hydroids from Point Géologie Archipelago (Dumont d’Urville Sea, Adélie Land, Antarctica)

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Abstract

Hydrozoans are one of the main and most characteristic zoological groups of Antarctic benthic communities, yet there are Antarctic areas where the hydrozoan fauna is completely unknown (e.g. the Admunsen Sea, West Antarctica) or scarcely known (e.g. Adélie Land, East Antarctica). Hitherto, only one study, published in 1972, has been devoted to hydroids inhabiting marine bottoms off Adélie Land. The present study contributes to a better knowledge of the benthic hydroid fauna of this region by studying material from the Antarctic Specially Protected Area of Pointe Géologie Archipelago (ASPA 120), area of considerable biological value and great importance for scientific research. 35 species of benthic hydroids were found, belonging to 14 families and 18 genera. 15 species represent new records for the area, bringing the number of species reported in the zone to 45. Leptothecata is dominant, with 30 species, while Anthoathecata is represented by just five species. Symplectoscyphidae is the most speciose family, with 11 species (31%), whereas Kirchenpaueriidae has the highest biomass due to Oswaldella terranovae, the species with the highest abundance and biomass and that could be considered a true habitat builder and biodiversity hotspot. The study of the hydroid assemblages has revealed the overwhelming dominance in the area of a community characterised mainly by O. terranovae; three other assemblages are present, albeit much less represented. The hydroid fauna is clearly dominated by eurybathic species (65%) and most of the species studied (88%) are restricted to Antarctic or Antarctic/sub-Antarctic waters, with 65% endemic to the Antarctic region.

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Acknowledgements

The author want to express his gratitude to Dr. Marc Éléaume and Dr. Cyril Gallut, from the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris, for giving me the opportunity to study this hydroid material, and to Dr. Aude Andouche, from the same institution, for her help with different aspects related to the collection. Likewise, I am grateful to Dr. Fran Ramil and Dr. Cinzia Gravili for reviewing the submitted manuscript. The author received support for a stay at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris from the SYNTHESYS Project, http://www.synthesys.info/, which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 Integrating Activities Programme.

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  1. Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva/Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Valencia, Apdo. Correos 22085, 46071, Valencia, Spain

    Álvaro L. Peña Cantero

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Peña Cantero, Á.L. Biodiversity, distribution and community structure of benthic hydroids from Point Géologie Archipelago (Dumont d’Urville Sea, Adélie Land, Antarctica). Polar Biol 44, 407–420 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02802-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02802-x

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