Zonation in a cryptic Antarctic intertidal macrofaunal community

Waller, Catherine L.. 2013 Zonation in a cryptic Antarctic intertidal macrofaunal community. Antarctic Science, 25 (1). 62-68. 10.1017/S0954102012000867

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Abstract/Summary

Despite the general view that the Antarctic intertidal conditions are too extreme to support obvious signs of macrofaunal life, recent studies have shown that intertidal communities can survive over annual cycles. The current study investigates distribution of taxa within a boulder cobble matrix, beneath the outer, scoured surface of the intertidal zone at Adelaide Island, west Antarctic Peninsula. The intertidal zone at the study sites comprised compacted, flattened cobble pavements, which have been shown to be highly stable over time. Community structure was investigated using univariate and multivariate approaches. Virtually no macrofauna were present on the outer surface, but richness, diversity, abundance and size of animals increased with depth into the rock matrix. Abundance of taxa increased by an order of magnitude between the outer surface and the lowest level sampled. These findings show that the Antarctic intertidal is not always the uninhabitable environment currently perceived, and that under these highly variable environmental conditions at least some species have the capacity to survive.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1017/S0954102012000867
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	0954-1020
Additional Keywords:	boulder-field, community structure, disturbance, diversity, encrusting
Date made live:	27 Feb 2013 10:00 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500159

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