The influence of depth,site exposure and season on the intensity of iceberg scouring in nearshore Antarctic waters |
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| Authors: | Dan A Smale David K A Barnes Keiron P P Fraser |
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| Institution: | (1) British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK |
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| Abstract: | Ice scour disturbance has a significant effect on the physical and biological characteristics of polar benthos. A series of
grids, each consisting of 25 markers, were deployed along depth transects and replicated at two contrasting study sites at
Adelaide Island, West Antarctic Peninsula. Markers were surveyed and replaced every 3 months for 2 years in order to assess
the frequency and intensity of iceberg impacts. Depth, site, season and year were all highly significant factors influencing
ice scouring frequency. We observed a high variation in the duration of winter fast ice between sites and years, which had
a marked effect on ice scouring frequency. The ecological effects of the disturbance regime are likely to include depth zonation
of benthic assemblages, patchiness of communities at varying stages of recovery and the near denudation of sessile fauna in
the shallow subtidal.
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| Keywords: | Ice Disturbance Benthos Mortality Scour |
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