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Environmental control on the structure of echinoid assemblages in the Bellingshausen Sea (Antarctica)

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Abstract

The Bellingshausen Sea is one of the most remote and least surveyed seas of the Southern Ocean, so that little was known about benthic communities and those factors that determine community structuring until recently. The present work aims at characterizing the structure and spatial distribution of echinoid assemblages in the Bellingshausen Sea, as well as identifying the environmental factors that determine assemblage structuring. Echinoids were collected at 32 stations using an Agassiz trawl, at depths of 86–3,304 m, during BENTART oceanographic expeditions led in 2003 and 2006. Sediment and bottom water properties were analysed using an USNEL-type box corer and a Neil Brown Instrument System Mark III CTD, respectively. Echinoids were found at all stations, except Peter I Island. Seventeen species were identified, representing 22 % of the echinoid species present in the Southern Ocean and increasing twofold the number of species recorded in the Bellingshausen Sea so far. The echinoid fauna is dominated by the very abundant species Sterechinus antarcticus. Depth is the key factor that determines the nature of echinoid assemblages, which are mainly divided into the continental shelf, the slope and the deep-sea basin. In addition, sediment properties, namely redox values, organic matter and mud content, best match species dispersion on the shelf. Sediment properties affect echinoid distribution depending on species food range and feeding strategy. As it might be expected, sediment properties more strongly influence specialist feeders (Schizasteridae and Cidaridae) than generalists (Echinidae).

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Acknowledgments

The ‘BENTART-03’ cruise was included within the Project REN2003-01881/ANT supported by the Spanish MCYT funds. The ‘BENTART-06’ cruise was funded by the Antarctic Program CGL2004-21066-E of the Spanish Government. TS was granted by the BIANZO I and II projects supported by the Belgian Science Policy (PADDII projects), and his work contributes to the Agence Nationale de la Recherche project ANTFLOCKS (grant ANR-07-BLAN-0213). The faunal studies were supported by the Spanish MCYT funds coming from the projects: REN2001-1074/ANT, REN2003—01881/ANT, GLC2004-01856/ANT and CGL2004-04684/ANT. We would like to express our thanks to the crew and UTM technicians of the RV ‘Hespérides’ for their help in collecting samples and to Sanjay Giany, native English teacher for the revision of the manuscript. Authors are greatly indebted to D. Pawson, B. Bluhm and J. Gutt for significantly improving the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Malaga, Spanish Oceanographic Institute, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29640, Fuengirola, Malaga, Spain

    Francina Moya

  2. UFR Sciences de la Vie, de la Terre et de l’Environnement, UMR CNRS 5561 Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France

    Thomas Saucède

  3. Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain

    M. Eugenia Manjón-Cabeza

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  1. Francina Moya
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Correspondence to M. Eugenia Manjón-Cabeza.

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Moya, F., Saucède, T. & Manjón-Cabeza, M.E. Environmental control on the structure of echinoid assemblages in the Bellingshausen Sea (Antarctica). Polar Biol 35, 1343–1357 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1176-5

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