Quantification of iceberg impact and benthic recolonisation patterns in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
Gutt, J.; Starmans, A. (2001). Quantification of iceberg impact and benthic recolonisation patterns in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica). Polar Biol. 24(8): 615-619. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s003000100263
Gutt, J.; Starmans, A. (2002). Quantification of iceberg impact and benthic recolonisation patterns in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica), in: Arntz, W.E. et al. (Ed.) Ecological studies in the Antarctic sea ice zone: results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium. pp. 210-214, more
Video transects in the eastern Weddell Sea were used to classify the mega-epibenthos into stages of recolonisation after iceberg impact and unaffected fauna. Three site categories differing in bottom topography and concentration of grounded icebergs were analysed. At small iceberg banks and on a comparatively plain seabed, 52-60% of undisturbed seafloor was found, and below 20% at a large iceberg bank. The impact was calculated as a function of values for recently disturbed areas and an estimated recovery time. The results show that, statistically, the Antarctic benthos never reaches peak maturity and that iceberg scouring is among the five most significant disturbances that any large ecosystem on earth experiences.
Dataset
Piepenburg D, Gutt J, Voß J (2014) Asteroids, ophiuroids and holothurians from the South-Eastern Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean). AntaBIF dataset, more
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy
