The influence of depth, site exposure and season on the intensity of iceberg scouring in nearshore Antarctic waters

Smale, Dan A.; Barnes, David K.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9076-7867; Fraser, Keiron P.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5491-8376. 2007 The influence of depth, site exposure and season on the intensity of iceberg scouring in nearshore Antarctic waters. Polar Biology, 30 (6). 769-779. 10.1007/s00300-006-0236-0

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Abstract/Summary

Ice scour disturbance has a significant effect on the physical and biological characteristics of polar benthos. A series of grids, each consisting of 25 markers, were deployed along depth transects and replicated at two contrasting study sites at Adelaide Island, West Antarctic Peninsula. Markers were surveyed and replaced every 3 months for 2 years in order to assess the frequency and intensity of iceberg impacts. Depth, site, season and year were all highly significant factors influencing ice scouring frequency. We observed a high variation in the duration of winter fast ice between sites and years, which had a marked effect on ice scouring frequency. The ecological effects of the disturbance regime are likely to include depth zonation of benthic assemblages, patchiness of communities at varying stages of recovery and the near denudation of sessile fauna in the shallow subtidal.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s00300-006-0236-0
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Biodiversity, Functions, Limits and Adaptation from Molecules to Ecosystems
ISSN:	0722-4060
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	27 May 2008 14:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3121

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