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Population dynamics of marine benthic invertebrates in Antarctic and subantarctic environments: are there unique adaptations?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2004

Thomas Brey
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, D-2850 Bremerhaven 1, Germany
Andrew Clarke
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK

Abstract

Data on the growth (20 species) and productivity (19 species) of Antarctic and subantarctic macrobenthos were compiled from published and unpublished sources. Differences in the production/biomass (P/B) ratio between Antarctic, Arctic and non-polar populations were examined using a set of 363 data arrays (327 non-polar, 26 Antarctic, 10 Arctic). Each array contained annual P/B ratio, mean individual body mass, geographical latitude, water depth, bottom water temperature and the nominal variables TAXON (Mollusca, Crustacea, Polychaeta, Echinodermata) and REGION (Antarctic, Arctic, non-polar). The P/B ratio was found to vary with body mass, taxon, temperature and water depth. P/B ratios of Antarctic and Arctic populations were significantly lower than those of non-polar populations. For Antarctic populations this difference could be explained completely by the effects of temperature and water depth. The strikingly high biomass of many Antarctic benthic communities is probably related to adaptations to low and oscillating food levels, and particularly to the low maintenance energy requirement associated with the low ambient temperature.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1993

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