Abstract
Three Spanish Antarctic research cruises (Ant-8611, Bentart-94 and Bentart-95) were carried out in the South Shetland Archipelago (Antarctic Peninsula) and Scotia Arc (South Orkney, South Sandwich and South Georgia archipelagos) on the continental shelf and upper slope (10-600 m depth). They have contributed to our knowledge about ascidian distribution and the zoogeographical relationships with the neighbouring areas and the other Subantarctic islands. The distribution of ascidian species suggests that the Scotia Arc is divided into two sectors, the South Orkney Archipelago, related to the Antarctic Province, and the South Georgia Archipelago (probably including the South Sandwich Archipelago), which is intermediate between the Antarctic Province and the Magellan region.
Highlights
The Antarctic Province represents one of the most clearly defined biogeographic divisions in the world
Knox (1994), following Hedgpeth’s scheme (1969), considered the Subantarctic region to be divided into the Magellan and Kerguelen Provinces or subregions; the Antarctic region in the western Antarctic, with the Antarctic Peninsula and the Scotia Arc
This study explores the biogeographical relationships of the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc with the Antarctic continent, Magellan region and the Subantarctic islands from the point of view of littoral ascidiofauna
Summary
The Antarctic Province represents one of the most clearly defined biogeographic divisions in the world. South Georgia Archipelago be included in the Austral Polar Province (Antarctic continent and adjoining islands). This study explores the biogeographical relationships of the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc with the Antarctic continent, Magellan region and the Subantarctic islands from the point of view of littoral ascidiofauna.
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