Skip to main content
Log in

Benthic Assemblages of the Powell Basin

  • MARINE BIOLOGY
  • Published:
Oceanology Aims and scope

Abstract

—During 79th cruise of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh twelve trawl hauls were collected in Powell Basin and adjacent area at depths 370–3771 m. The structure of the benthic assemblages was highly variable when considered at the macrotaxon level. The main factors shaping the taxonomical structure of the sampled assemblages were depth, near-bottom current velocities and proportion of the hard fraction of the sediment. Hard substrate assemblages of the Antarctic peninsula slope and Philip Ridge with high percentage of filter-feeders (mainly sponges) were associated with the highest values of the near-bottom tide currents (up to 55.6 cm/s). In several trawl hauls indicator species of vulnerable marine ecosystems—mainly Demospongiae sponges, deep-sea corals Stylasteridae (Hydrozoa) and Primnoidae (Octocorallia)—were collected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. A. F. Alimov, “Metabolism intensity of aquatic poikilothermic animals,” in General Principles of Analysis of Aquatic Ecosystems (Nauka, Leningrad, 1979), pp. 5–20.

    Google Scholar 

  2. N. V. Kucheruk and T. A. Savilova, “Quantitative and ecological characteristics of the benthic fauna of the shelf and the upper slope of the North Peruvian upwelling area,” Byull. Mosk. O-va. Ispyt. Prir., Otd. Biol. 89 (4), 59–70 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  3. E. G. Morozov, V. A. Spiridonov, T. N. Molodtsova, D. I. Frey, T. A. Demidova, and M. V. Flint, “Investigations of the ecosystem in the Atlantic sector of Antarctica (cruise 79 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh),” Oceanology (Engl. Transl.) 60, 721–723 (2020).

  4. B. I. Sirenko, “Main differences in macrobenthos and benthic communities of the Arctic and Antarctic, as illustrated by comparison of the Laptev and Weddell Sea faunas,” Russ. J. Mar. Biol. 35, 445–453 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. B. I. Sirenko, S. Yu. Gagaev, and I. S. Smirnov, “Comparison of shallow-water benthic communities of the Ross, Davis, Cosmonauts and the Commonwealth seas by the dominant species of Antarctic invertebrates,” Tr. Bel. Gos. Univ. 9 (2), 39–48 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  6. B. I. Sirenko, I. S. Smirnov, and A. V. Neelov, “Species diversity and origin of fauna in Antarctica seas,” in Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting in Memoriam of Oleg Grigorievich Kusakin (Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 2008), No. 1, pp. 202–213.

  7. M. N. Sokolova, Feeding and Trophic Structure of Abyssal Macrobenthos (Nauka, Moscow, 1986) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  8. V. A. Spiridonov, A. V. Vinnikov, A. A. Golenkevich, and A. A. Maiss, “Vulnerable marine ecosystems and related concepts in the practice of marine environmental management: concepts, terminology and possible application for the conservation of the marine environment and biological resources,” Tr. VNIRO 174, 143–173 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. E. P. Turpaeva, “Feeding and trophic groups of marine benthic invertebrates,” Tr. Inst. Okeanol. im. P.P. Shirshova, Akad. Nauk SSSR, No. 7, 259–299 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. B. Aronson, S. Thatje, A. Clarke, L. S. Peck, D. B. Blake, C. D. Wulga, and B. A. Siebels, “Climate change and invasibility of the Antarctic benthos,” Ann. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 38, 129–154 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. W. E. Arntz, T. Brey, and V. A. Gallardo, “Antarctic zoobenthos,” Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. 32, 241–304 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  12. S. R. Auscavitch and R. G. Waller, “Biogeographical patterns among deep sea megabenthic communities across the Drake Passage,” Antarct. Sci. 29 (6), 531–543 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. A. I. Azovsky, E. S. Chertoprood, M. A. Saburova, and I. G. Polikarpov, “Spatio-temporal variability of micro- and meiobenthic communities in a White Sea intertidal sandflat,” Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 60, 663–671 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. D. K. Barnes, “Changing chain: past, present and future of the Scotia Arc’s and Antarctica’s shallow water benthic communities,” Sci. Mar. 69 (2), 65–89 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. P. Barry and P. K. Dayton, “Current patterns in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica and their relationship to local biotic communities,” Polar Biol. 8 (5), 367–376 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. T. P. Boyer, O. K. Baranova, C. Coleman, H. E. Garcia, A. Grodsky, R. A. Locarnini, A. V. Mishonov, T. D. O’Brien, C. R. Paver, J. R. Reagan, D. Seidov, I. V. Smolyar, K. Weathers, and M. M. Zweng, World Ocean Database, 2018. https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/ OC5/WOD/pr_wod.html. Accessed June 1, 2020.

  17. A. Brandt, S. Brix, W. Brökeland, M. Choudhury, S. Kaiser, and M. Malyutina, “Deep-sea isopod biodiversity, abundance, and endemism in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean—Results from the ANDEE-P I–III expeditions,” Deep Sea Res. Pt. II 54 (16–17), 1760–1775 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.07.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. M. J. Brasier, S. M. Grant, P. N. Trathan, L. Allcock, O. Ashford, H. Blagbrough, A. Brandt, B. Danis, R. Downey, M. P. Eléaume, P. Enderlein, C. Ghiglione, O. Hogg, K. Linse, M. Mackenzie, et al., “Benthic biodiversity in the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area,” Biodiversity 19 (1–2), 5–19 (2018). .https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2018.1468821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. T. Brey and D. Gerdes, “High Antarctic macrobenthic community production,” J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 231, 191–200 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. A. Clarke, “Antarctic marine benthic diversity: patterns and processes,” J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 366, 48–55 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2008.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. K. R. Clarke and R. M. Warwick, Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, 2nd ed. (PRIMER-E, Plymouth, 2001).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Protection of the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf, Conservation Measure 91-03 (Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Hobart, 2009).

  23. Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. https://www.ccamlr.org/en/compliance/vulnerable-marine-ecosystems-vmes. Accessed May 24, 2020.

  24. F. Coren, G. Ceccone, E. Lodolo, C. Zanolla, N. Zitelini, C. Bonazzi, and J. Centonze, “Morphology, seismic structure and tectonic development of the Powell Basin, Antarctica,” J. Geol. Soc. London 154, 849–862 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. V. Cummings, S. Thrush, A. Norkko, N. Andrew, J. Hewitt, G. Funnell, and A. M. Schwarz, “Accounting for local scale variability in benthos: implications for future assessments of latitudinal trends in the coastal Ross Sea,” Antarct. Sci. 18 (4), 633–644 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102006000666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. E. B. Cutler, The Sipuncula: Their Systematics, Biology, and Evolution (Cornell University Press, New York, 1994).

    Google Scholar 

  27. P. K. Dayton, G. A. Robilliard, and R. T. Paine, “Benthic fauna zonation as a result of anchor ice at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica,” in Antarctic Ecology, Ed. by M. V. Holdgate (Academic, London, 1970), Vol. 1, pp. 244–255.

    Google Scholar 

  28. B. Dorschel, J. Gutt, D. Piepenburg, M. Schröder, and J. E. Arndt, “The influence of the geomorphological and sedimentological settings on the distribution of epibenthic assemblages on a flat topped hill on the over-deepened shelf of the western Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean),” Biogeosciences 11, 3797–3817 (2014). https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-3797-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. B. Dorschel, J. Gutt, O. Huhn, A. Bracher, M. Huntemann, W. Huneke, C. Gebhardt, Schröder, and H. Herr, “Environmental information for a marine ecosystem research approach for the northern Antarctic Peninsula (RV Polarstern expedition PS81, ANT-XXIX/3),” Polar Biol. 39, 765–787 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1861-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. G. D. Egbert and S. Y. Erofeeva, “Efficient inverse modeling of barotropic ocean tides,” J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 19 (2), 183–204 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. D. Gerdes, M. Klages, W. E. Arntz, R. L. Herman, J. Galéron, and S. Hain, “Quantitative investigations on macrobenthos communities of the southeastern Weddell Sea shelf based on multi box corer samples,” Polar Biol. 12, 291–301 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. H.-M. Gili, R. Coma, C. Orejas, P. J. López-González, and M. Zabala, “Are Antarctic suspension-feeding communities different from elsewhere in the world,” in Ecological Studies in the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone: Results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium, Ed. by W. E. Arntz and A. Clarke (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002), pp. 104–116.

  33. J. S. Gray, “Antarctic marine benthic biodiversity in a world-wide latitudinal context,” in Ecological Studies in the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone: Results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium, Ed. by W. E. Arntz and A. Clarke (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002), pp. 1–9.

  34. H. J. Griffiths, K. Linse, and D. K. Barnes, “Distribution of macrobenthic taxa across the Scotia Arc, Southern Ocean,” Antarct. Sci. 20, 213–226 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102008001168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. H. J. Griffiths, A. J. S. Meijers, and T. J. Bracegirdle, “More losers than winners in a century of future Southern Ocean seafloor warming,” Nat. Clim. Change 7, 749–754 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE3377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. H. J. Griffiths and C. L. Waller, “The first comprehensive description of the biodiversity and biogeography of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic intertidal communities,” J. Biogeogr. 43, 1143–1155 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. E. N. Gruzov, “Seasonal alterations in coastal communities in the Davis Sea,” in Proceedings of the Third SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology “Adaptations within Antarctic Ecosystems,” Ed. by G. A. Llano (Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC, 1977), pp. 263–278.

  38. J. Gutt, “Some “driving forces” structuring communities of the sublittoral Antarctic macrobenthos,” Antarct. Sci. 12 (3), 297–313 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. J. Gutt, “Antarctic macro-zoobenthic communities: a review and an ecological classification,” Antarct. Sci. 19 (2), 165–182 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Gutt, M. C. Alvaro, A. Barco, A. Böhmer, A. Bracher, B. David, C. De Ridder, B. Dorschel, M. Eléaume, D. Janussen, D. Kersken, P. J. López-González, I. Martínez-Baraldés, M. Schröder, A. Segelken-Voigt, and N. Teixidó, “Macroepibenthic communities at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, an ecological survey at different spatial scales,” Polar Biol. 39, 829–849 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1797-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. J. Gutt, J. Arndt, C. Kraan, B. Dorschel, M. Schröder, A. Bracher, and D. Piepenburg, “Benthic communities and their drivers: a spatial analysis off the Antarctic Peninsula,” Limnol. Oceanogr. 64 (6), 2341–2357 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. J. Gutt, N. Bertler, T. J. Bracegirdle, A. Buschmann, J. Comiso, G. Hosie, E. Isla, I. R. Schloss, C. R. Smith, J. Tournadre, and J. C. Xavier, “The Southern Ocean ecosystem under multiple climate change stresses—an integrated circumpolar assessment,” Glob. Change Biol. 21, 1434–1453 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. J. Gutt and A. Starmans, “Structure and biodiversity of megabenthos in the Weddell and Lazarev Seas (Antarctica): ecological role of physical parameters and biological interactions,” Polar Biol. 20, 229–247 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. J. Gutt and A. Starmans, “Quantification of iceberg impact and benthic recolonisation patterns in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica),” in Ecological Studies in the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone: Results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium, Ed. by W. E. Arntz and A. Clarke (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002), pp. 210–214.

  45. Ø. Hammer, PAST: Paleontological Statistics Software Package, Version 3.06 (Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, 2015).

  46. Echinoderm Nutrition, Ed. by M. Jangoux and J. M. Lawrence (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1982), pp. 1–654.

    Google Scholar 

  47. M. Lavaleye, S. Thatje, G. Duineveld, and W. E. Arntz, “Pelagic larvae and juveniles of benthic invertebrates in the near-bottom environment,” Ber. Polarforsch. 503, 31–35 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  48. K. Linse, A. Brandt, J. M. Bohn, B. Danis, C. De Broyer, B. Ebbe, V. Heterier, D. Janussen, P. J. López González, M. Schuller, E. Schwabe, and M. R. A. Thomson, “Macro- and megabenthic assemblages in the bathyal and abyssal Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean),” Deep Sea Res. Pt. II 54, 1848–1863 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.07.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. R. A. Massom and S. E. Stammerjohn, “Antarctic sea ice change and variability—Physical and ecological implications,” Polar Sci. 4, 149–186 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. B. McCune, J. B. Grace, and D. L. Urban, Analysis of Ecological Communities (Mjm Software Design, Gleneden Beach, OR, 2002), Vol. 28.

    Google Scholar 

  51. World of change, Antarctic Sea ice, Earth observatory, National Aeronautics and Space Agency. https:// earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/sea-ice-antarctic. Accessed May 23, 2020.

  52. M. Quartino, H. Klöser, I. Schloss, and C. Wiencke, “Biomass and associations of benthic marine macroalgae from the inner Potter Cove (King George Island, Antarctica) related to depth and substrate,” Polar Biol. 24 (5), 349–355 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000000218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. M. Rauschert, “Ergebnisse der faunistischen Arbeiten im Benthal von King George Island (Sildshetlandinseln, Antarktis),” Ber. Polarforsch. 76, 1–75 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  54. M. G. Richardson, “The distribution of Antarctic marine macro-algae related to depth and substrate,” Brit. Antarct. Surv. B. 49, 1–13 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  55. J. I. Saiz-Salinas, A. Ramos, T. Munilla, and M. Rauschert, “Changes in the biomass and dominant feeding mode of benthic assemblages with depth off Livingston Island (Antarctica),” Polar Biol. 19, 424–428 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. J. Sisínski, K. Paris, K. Jażdżewski, A. Konopacka, and M. Błażewicz-Paszkowycz, “Macrozoobenthos of two Antarctic glacial coves: a comparison with non-disturbed bottom areas,” Polar Biol. 35, 355–367 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. The Natural History of the Crustacea, Vol. 2: Lifestyles and Feeding Biology, Ed. by M. Thiel and L. Watling (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  58. P. N. Trathan and S. M. Grant, “The South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area: towards the establishment of marine spatial protection within international waters in the Southern Ocean,” in Marine Protected Areas: Science, Policy and Management (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2020), Ch. 4, pp. 67–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102698-4.00004-6

    Book  Google Scholar 

  59. M. Visbeck, “Deep velocity profiling using Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler: bottom track and inverse solution,” J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 19 (5), 794–807 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. J. Voss, “Zoogeography and community analysis of macrobenthos of the Weddell Sea (Antarctica),” Ber. Polarforsch. 45, 1–145 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  61. J. W. Wägele, “The feeding mechanism of Antarcturus and a redescription of A. spinacoronatus Schultz, 1978 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Valvifera),” Philos. Trans. R. Soc., B 316, 429–458 (1987).

  62. R. G. Waller, K. M. Scanlon, and L. F. Robinson, “Cold-water coral distributions in the Drake Passage area from towed camera observations—Initial interpretations,” PLoS One 6 (1), e16153 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016153

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors express their gratitude to the Captain and the crew of 79th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh for their highly professional work. Special thanks go to I.O. Bukin and A.M. Koltunov (NSCMB FEB RAS) for invaluable support during deck work; A.K. Zalota, A.B. Basin, N.V. Gordeeva, and S.G. Kobyliansky (IO RAS) and P.A. Kireev, A. E. Vlasenko, and G.V. Malykin (NSCMB FEB RAS) for help in the collection and primary processing of material; and to A.A. Polukhin (IO RAS) for providing hydrochemical data.

Funding

The study was carried out under the Minobrnauki of the Russian Federation State Assignment nos. 0128-2019-0008 (IO RAS) and 0208-2019-0013 (NSCMB FEB RAS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. V. Galkin.

Additional information

Translated by D. Martynova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Galkin, S.V., Minin, K.V., Udalov, A.A. et al. Benthic Assemblages of the Powell Basin. Oceanology 61, 204–219 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437021020053

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437021020053

Keywords:

Navigation