Abstract
The geographical coverage of a comprehensive dataset on Antarctic macrobenthic communities is provided for the first time. Since the sampling methods applied since the 1950s vary considerably, a robust analysis was carried out. The results show firstly, that all main types of communities, especially suspension and mobile or infaunal deposit feeders, can occur everywhere. Thus, their biogeography is hardly predictable and assumed to be shaped by complex biological interactions. Secondly, the often-mentioned dominance of communities composed of suspension feeders and associated fauna can be confirmed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Arnaud P (1974) Contribution à la bionomie marine benthique des régions antarctiques et subantarctiques. Tethys 6(3):467–653
Barnes DKA, Conlan KW (2007) Disturbance, colonization and development of Antarctic bentrhic communities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 362:11–38
Barnes DKA, Peck LS (2008) Vulnerability of Antarctic shelf biodiversity to predict regional warming. Clim Res 37:149–163
Barnes DKA, Griffiths HJ, Kaiser S (2009) Geographic rage shift responses to climate change by Antarctic benthos: where we should look. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 393:13–26
Barthel D, Gutt J (1992) Sponge associations in the eastern Weddell Sea. Antarct Sci 4:137–150
Brandt A, Gutt J (2011) Biodiversity of a unique environment: the Southern Ocean benthos shaped and threatened by climate change. In: Zachos FE, Habel JC (eds) Biodiversity hotspots. Springer, Berlin, pp 503–526
Bullivant JS (1967) Ecology of the Ross Sea benthos. In: The fauna of the Ross Sea. Bull NZ Dep Sci Ind Res 176:49–78
Clarke A, Johnston NM (2003) Antarctic marine benthic diversity. Oceanogr Mar Biol Rev 41:47–114
Cummings VJ, Thrush SF, Chinatore M, Hewitt JE, Cattaneo-Vietti R (2010) Macrobenthic communities oft he north-western Ross Sea shelf: links to deth, sediment characteristics and latitude. Antarct Sci 22:793–804
Dayton PK (1990) Polar benthos. In: Smith WO (ed) Polar oceanography, part B: chemistry, biology, and geology. Academic, London, pp 631–685
Dayton PK, Robilliard GA, Paine RT, Dayton LB (1974) Biological accomodation in the benthic community at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ecol Monogr 44:105–128
Gutt J (2006) Coexistence of macro-zobenthic species on the Antarctic shelf: an attempt to link ecological theory and results. Deep Sea Res II 53:1009–1028
Gutt J (2007) Antarctic macro-zoobenthic communities: a review and an ecological classification. Antarct Sci 19(2):165–182
Gutt J, Hosie G, Stoddart M (2010) Marine life in the Antarctic. In: McIntyre AD (ed) Life in the world’s oceans: diversity, distribution and abundance. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 203–220
Gutt J, Barnes DKL, Lockhart S, van de Putte A (2013) Antarctic macrobenthic communities: a compilation of circumpolar information. Nat Conservat 4:1–13
Koltun VM (1968) Spicules of sponges as an element of the bottom sediments oft he Antarctic. In: SCAR; SCOR; IAPO; IUBS (ed) Symposium on Antarctic Oceanography Santiago—Chile 13–16 September 1966. Heffer, Cambridge, England, pp 121–123
Smale DA, Barnes DKA (2008) Likely responses oft he Anarctic benthos to climate-related changes in physical disturbance during the 21st century, based primarily on evidence from West Antarctic Peninsula region. Ecography 31:289–305
Turner J, Bindschadler R, Convey P, di Prisco G, Fahrbach E, Gutt J, Hodgson D, Mayewsky P, Summerhayes C (2009) Antarctic climate change and the environment. SCAR, Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gutt, J., Griffiths, H.J. & Jones, C.D. Circumpolar overview and spatial heterogeneity of Antarctic macrobenthic communities. Mar Biodiv 43, 481–487 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-013-0152-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-013-0152-9