Scavenging in Antarctica: intense variation between sites and seasons in shallow benthic necrophagy

Smale, Dan; Barnes, David K.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9076-7867; Fraser, Keiron P.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5491-8376; Mann, Paul J.; Brown, Matt P.. 2007 Scavenging in Antarctica: intense variation between sites and seasons in shallow benthic necrophagy. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 349 (2). 405-417. 10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.002

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.002

Abstract/Summary

The response of scavengers to a feeding cue at Adelaide Island, West Antarctic Peninsula was investigated using a baited video camera system. Fourteen experimental deployments, each lasting 72 h were conducted at two contrasting sites during the winter and summer of 2005. The rate of bait consumption varied between sites but not between seasons, and was low in comparison with studies at lower latitudes and greater depths. At the Hangar Cove site, the nemertean Parborlasia corrugatus was out-competed at the bait and displaced by the lysianassid amphipod Cheirmedon femoratus during winter. However, C. femoratus did not feed on the bait during summer, allowing P. corrugatus to monopolise the feeding opportunity. At the South Cove site the asteroid Odontaster validus dominated the bait in both seasons but sporadic feeding by the nototheniid fish Notothenia coriiceps considerably affected consumption rates during two of the six deployments. Scavengers were attracted to the bait in very high numbers and opportunistic necrophagy seems to be a successful strategy in an environment that is intensely disturbed by ice.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.002
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Biodiversity, Functions, Limits and Adaptation from Molecules to Ecosystems
ISSN:	0022-0981
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	06 Feb 2009 16:50 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5984

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.002

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Biodiversity, Functions, Limits and Adaptation from Molecules to Ecosystems

ISSN:

0022-0981

NORA Subject Terms:

Zoology
Ecology and Environment

Date made live:

06 Feb 2009 16:50 +0 (UTC)