Patterns of higher taxon colonisation and development in sessile marine benthic assemblages at Casey Station, Antarctica, and their use in environmental monitoring

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 365:77-89 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07559 Patterns of higher taxon colonisation and development in sessile marine benthic assemblages at Casey Station, Antarctica, and their use in environmental monitoring Jonathan S. Stark* Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia *Email: jonny.stark@aad.gov.au ABSTRACT: Colonisation and development of sessile epibiotic assemblages on tiles was studied at Casey Station, East Antarctica, using a mix of higher taxon classifications (family to phylum). Tiles were deployed for 1 and 3 yr at 3 control and 2 impacted locations. Assemblages on upper and lower surfaces of tiles were very different, with little colonisation of upper surfaces (0 to 11% after 3 yr) and extensive colonisation of lower surfaces (60 to 91% after 3 yr), which is greater than previously reported from Antarctica. Hypotheses were tested relating to spatial variation, depth, human impacts (a sewage outfall and a waste disposal site) and period of deployment. Differences between control locations were only apparent after 3 yr, but there were significant differences between control and impacted locations after 1 yr. There were differences between assemblages at 7 to 10 m and 19 to 22 m. Assemblages were initially dominated by spirorbid polychaetes and bryozoans, but by 3 yr there was significant sponge cover at some locations. Both impacted locations had significantly greater cover on upper surfaces than controls. The waste disposal site had the least cover on lower surfaces, with almost no sponge and less bryozoans than controls. The outfall had the greatest cover on the lower surfaces, the greatest cover of spirorbids and sponges but the least cover of bryozoans. Higher taxa assemblage patterns of colonisation on settlement panels are potentially useful as a medium- to long-term monitoring tool for sheltered Antarctic nearshore waters. KEY WORDS: Marine benthos · Colonisation · Settlement panels · Environmental impact · Assemblage succession · Monitoring Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Stark JS (2008) Patterns of higher taxon colonisation and development in sessile marine benthic assemblages at Casey Station, Antarctica, and their use in environmental monitoring. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 365:77-89. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07559 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 365. Online publication date: August 18, 2008 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.