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Biodiversity change after climate-induced ice-shelf collapse in the Antarctic
Gutt, J.; Barratt, I.; Domack, E.; d'Acoz, C.D.; Dimmler, W.; Gremare, A.; Heilmayer, O.; Isla, E.; Janussen, D.; Jorgensen, E.; Kock, K.H.; Lehnert, L.S.; Lopez-Gonzales, P.; Langner, S.; Linse, K.; Manjon-Cabeza, M.E.; Meissner, M.; Montiel, A.; Raes, M.; Robert, H.; Rose, A.; Schepisi, E.S.; Saucede, T.; Scheidat, M.; Schenke, H.W.; Seiler, J.; Smith, C. (2011). Biodiversity change after climate-induced ice-shelf collapse in the Antarctic. Deep-Sea Res., Part 2, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 58(1-2): 74-83. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.05.024
In: Deep-Sea Research, Part II. Topical Studies in Oceanography. Pergamon: Oxford. ISSN 0967-0645; e-ISSN 1879-0100
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 230460 [ download pdf ]
Keywords
    Euphausia superba Dana, 1850 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Antarctic Peninsula; Benthos; Krill; Apex predators; Pioneer species;
Authors  Top 
  • Gutt, J.
  • Barratt, I.
  • Domack, E.
  • d'Acoz, C.D.
  • Dimmler, W.
  • Gremare, A.
  • Heilmayer, O.
  • Isla, E.
  • Janussen, D.
  • Jorgensen, E.
  • Kock, K.H.
  • Lehnert, L.S.
  • Lopez-Gonzales, P.
  • Langner, S.
  • Linse, K.
  • Manjon-Cabeza, M.E.
  • Meissner, M.
  • Montiel, A.
  • Raes, M.
  • Robert, H.
  • Rose, A.
  • Schepisi, E.S.
  • Saucede, T.
  • Scheidat, M.
  • Schenke, H.W.
  • Seiler, J.
  • Smith, C.
Abstract
    The marine ecosystem on the eastern shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula was surveyed 5 and 12 years after the climate-induced collapse of the Larsen A and B ice shelves. An impoverished benthic fauna was discovered, that included deep-sea species presumed to be remnants from ice-covered conditions. The current structure of various ecosystem components appears to result from extremely different response rates to the change from an oligotrophic sub-ice-shelf ecosystem to a productive shelf ecosystem. Meiobenthic communities remained impoverished only inside the embayments. On local scales, macro- and mega-epibenthic diversity was generally low, with pioneer species and typical Antarctic megabenthic shelf species interspersed. Antarctic Minke whales and seals utilised the Larsen A/B area to feed on presumably newly established krill and pelagic fish biomass. Ecosystem impacts also extended well beyond the zone of ice-shelf collapse, with areas of high benthic disturbance resulting from scour by icebergs discharged from the Larsen embayments.
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