Feeding ecology of benthic filter-feeders at Potter Cove,an Antarctic coastal ecosystem |
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| Authors: | Marcos Tatián Ricardo Sahade Guillermo Mercuri Verónica L Fuentes Julieta C Antacli Alexia Stellfeldt Graciela B Esnal |
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| Institution: | (1) Ecología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av Vélez Sársfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina;(2) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina;(3) Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA), Cerrito 1248, 1010 Buenos Aires, Argentina;(4) Alfred Wegener Institute, Columbusstrasse, Bremerhaven, Germany;(5) Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | A rich benthic filter-feeding community is present at Potter Cove, South Shetland, in spite of some usually unfavorable conditions
affecting their feeding ecology, such as low phytoplankton production in summer and high sedimentation rates. However, organic
material that could fuel the benthic system, such as macroalgal fragments, was detected in the water-bottom interface year-round.
Mean assimilation efficiency of several sizes of macroalgal particles under different inorganic particulate percentages varied
between 26–51% in a clam, and 26–72% in two ascidian species. Estimated particle flux (feces) produced by ascidians varied
according to species and abundance. The C:N ratio of feces was relatively high. Plasticity and profit from the available food
sources contribute to the success of the filter-feeding community in Potter Cove. |
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| Keywords: | Antarctica Filter-feeder Assimilation Coupling Particle flux Cnemidocarpa verrucosa Laternula elliptica Pyura setosa |
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