Brief description
This study presents compelling evidence for a diverse and abundant seabed community which has developed over the course of the Holocene beneath the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. Fossil analysis of a 47 cm long sediment core reveals a rich modern fauna, dominated by filter feeders (sponges and bryozoans), with an abundant infauna predominantly of polychaetes. The down-core assemblage reveals a succession in the colonisation of this site. The lower portion of the core (prior to ~9600 yr BP) is completely devoid of preserved fauna. The first colonisers of the site after this time were the mobile benthic organisms. Their occurrence in the core is matched by the first appearance of planktonic taxa, indicating a retreat of the ice shelf following the last glaciation to within sufficient distance to advect planktonic particles via bottom currents. The benthic infauna and filter feeders emerged during the peak abundance of the planktonic organisms, indicating their dependence on this advected food supply which is brought via bottom currents flowing from the open shelf waters of Prydz Bay. Understanding patterns of species succession in this environment has important implications for determining the potential significance of future global change. The collapse of Antarctic ice shelves, as has happened in recent times, would significantly change the organic supply regime, and therefore the nature of these sub-ice shelf benthic communities.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknown
Statement: Unknown
Issued: 2007
text: westlimit=68; southlimit=-72.0; eastlimit=76; northlimit=-66.0
Subjects
AQ |
Antarctic data |
Article |
Earth Sciences |
External Publication |
Published_External |
geoscientificInformation |
habitat |
marine |
palaeoclimatology |
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Other Information
Link to Publication
Identifiers
- DOI : 10.3354/MEPS06966
- URI : pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/64953
- global : a05f7892-cf1c-7506-e044-00144fdd4fa6