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Antarctic Science

Table of Contents - 1993 - Volume 5, Issue 03  


Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography

Population dynamics of marine benthic invertebrates in Antarctic and subantarctic environments: are there unique adaptations?

Thomas Brey a1 and Andrew Clarke a2
a1 Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, D-2850 Bremerhaven 1, Germany
a2 British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK

Article author query
brey t   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
clarke a   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Data on the growth (20 species) and productivity (19 species) of Antarctic and subantarctic macrobenthos were compiled from published and unpublished sources. Differences in the production/biomass (P/B) ratio between Antarctic, Arctic and non-polar populations were examined using a set of 363 data arrays (327 non-polar, 26 Antarctic, 10 Arctic). Each array contained annual P/B ratio, mean individual body mass, geographical latitude, water depth, bottom water temperature and the nominal variables TAXON (Mollusca, Crustacea, Polychaeta, Echinodermata) and REGION (Antarctic, Arctic, non-polar). The P/B ratio was found to vary with body mass, taxon, temperature and water depth. P/B ratios of Antarctic and Arctic populations were significantly lower than those of non-polar populations. For Antarctic populations this difference could be explained completely by the effects of temperature and water depth. The strikingly high biomass of many Antarctic benthic communities is probably related to adaptations to low and oscillating food levels, and particularly to the low maintenance energy requirement associated with the low ambient temperature.

(Received June 18 1992)
(Accepted December 15 1992)


Key Words: benthic invertebrates; population dynamics; P/B-ratio; Antarctica.

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