The Effect of Glacier Recession on Benthic and Pelagic Communities: Case Study in Herve Cove, Antarctica

Abstract

Changes in macrobenthic and pelagic communities in the postglacial, partially isolated, lagoon Herve Cove in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, were investigated 15 years after the first comprehensive studies had been conducted in this region. The bottom area of the cove has enlarged from approximately 12 ha to 19 ha after the retreat of the Dera Icefall. Based on a photographic survey of the benthos and taxonomic composition of zooplankton, ecological succession and the colonization of new species have been observed. Several new species occur such as gastropods, seastars, sea urchins and isopods, and their presence in different parts of the cove, as well as breeding aggregations suggests that they reproduce there. The influence of glacial streams is notable in bottom assemblages. We propose that Herve Cove is a good research area for studies on ecological succession in newly opened areas. The colonization of this lagoon has been recognized to be in its developing stage, and research should be continued.

Spatial Distribution Patterns of Appendicularians in the Drake Passage: Potential Indicators of Water Masses?

“…During the last few decades, the Antarctic ecosystem has been changing, mainly due to climatic fluctuations and the direct impacts of human activity [20,21]. These changes are visible not only in fluctuations of abiotic factors [22,23], but also at the functional level of the pelagic communities [24][25][26][27][28]. The responses of zooplankton to the warming Antarctic marine environment are very difficult to characterize due to the complex interactions between predators and prey [29,30].…”

Appendicularia (Tunicata) in an Antarctic Glacial Fjord–Chaotic Fjordic Structure Community or Good Indicators of Oceanic Water Masses?

“…Nonetheless, these animals are still very poorly studied, especially in polar regions, which is often due to the use of inadequate plankton nets, as well as difficulties in taxonomic identification [16,61]. Considering the above facts, the results of the research presented in this paper may offer a significant contribution to a better understanding of this group of animals in polar fjord environments, where the effects of ongoing climate change are most clearly and readily visible [28,35,62].…”

“…In Antarctic or sub-Antarctic bays or fjords, studies on larvaceans are even rarer. Fuentes et al [26] recorded Fritillaria borealis and Oikopleura gaussica in Potter Cove (King George Island), while Freire et al [27] found F. borealis in Admiralty Bay (King George Island), and Potocka et al [28] noted Appendicularia in Herve Cove (Admiralty Bay).…”

“…Gelatinous zooplankton, which includes appendicularians, may play an important role in the functioning of pelagic food webs and biogeochemical cycles due to their important role in the circulation of organic matter [8,16,[29][30][31][32]. Increased melting of glaciers has been observed in Antarctic shelf regions in recent decades [28,[33][34][35]. The current state of knowledge allows us to suggest that plankton communities in fjordic and shelf areas such as Admiralty Bay will react rapidly to environmental changes.…”

Submarine Tailings in Chile—A Review

“…The pelagic ecosystem consists of all the organisms that inhabit the middle waters of the oceans and seas. The species in this area are fish, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and predators [48][49][50]. The disposal of tailings in the sea has a more significant impact on the benthic fauna because they directly contact the seabed.…”