Molluscan assemblages associated with gigartina beds in the strait of magellan and the south shetland islands (Antarctica): a comparison of composition and abundance
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
In this paper we evaluated the composition and abundance of molluscs associated with beds
of the red algae Gigartina, located in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctic Peninsula) and the
Strait of Magellan (southern Chile). During the summer season of 2013, samples were
obtained by scuba diving using a 0.25 m2 quadrat, arranged randomly within the bed. We
extracted a total of 15 quadrats per sampling site. For Antarctic Peninsula beds the most
abundant species were the bivalve Lissarca miliaris (233 individuals) and the gastropod
Laevilacunaria antarctica (94 individuals), while for Strait of Magellan beds the most abundant
species was the polyplacophoran Callochiton puniceus (36 individuals). Comparative analysis
between the two molluscan assemblages showed significant differences in the faunal composition
between the Antarctic Peninsula and Strait of Magellan (f = 64.474; p = 0.0001).
Therefore, molluscs reported in both areas are characteristic of their respective biogeographic
area. Finally, Gigartina species play an important role in the formation of patterns of abundance
and diversity of the communities associated with them.
Description
Keywords
Ciencia, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Algae beds
Citation
Polar Research, 2017 Vol. 36, doi.10.1080/17518369.2017.1297915