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Vertical zonation of benthic invertebrates in the intertidal zone of Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2021

Maciej Chelchowski Open the ORCID record for Maciej Chelchowski [Opens in a new window] ,
Piotr Balazy ,
Katarzyna Grzelak ,
Lukasz Grzelak ,
Monika Kędra ,
Joanna Legezynska  and
Piotr Kuklinski
Maciej Chelchowski*
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Piotr Balazy
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Katarzyna Grzelak
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Lukasz Grzelak
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Monika Kędra
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Joanna Legezynska
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
Piotr Kuklinski
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
*
chelchowski@iopan.gda.pl
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Abstract

The Antarctic Peninsula is undergoing rapid change due to global warming, including air and water temperature increases. Fauna inhabiting the intertidal zone are particularly exposed to warming impacts, as they are subjected to high variations in both terrestrial and marine environmental settings. This study aimed to assess intertidal macrofaunal and meiofaunal biodiversity, tidal height-related assemblage structural patterns and their responses to variability in environmental parameters on King George Island. A total of 39 macrofaunal taxa were identified, with polychaetes and amphipods being the most diverse groups and gastropods, amphipods and bivalves being the most abundant. In the case of meiofauna, 16 taxa were found, mainly nematodes, copepod nauplii and harpacticoids. There was a significant decrease in the number of species, abundance and biomass for both macrofauna and meiofauna with increasing tidal height. Our investigation documented highly diverse and abundant fauna in the Antarctic intertidal zone. With its thriving life, it could serve as a perfect model system for detecting climate change impacts on local biodiversity. Therefore, we propose the Antarctic intertidal zone as a suitable habitat for monitoring these changes.

Keywords

benthic assemblage patternsdiversityintertidalmacrofaunameiofauna
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 29 - 44
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Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2021

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