Characterisation of the Nematode Community of a Low-Activity Cold Seep in the Recently Ice-Shelf Free Larsen B Area, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula

Background: Recent climate-induced ice-shelf disintegration in the Larsen A (1995) and B (2002) areas along the Eastern Antarctic Peninsula formed a unique opportunity to assess sub-ice-shelf benthic community structure and led to the discovery of unexplored habitats, including a low-activity methane seep beneath the former Larsen B ice shelf. Since both limited particle sedimentation under previously permanent ice coverage and reduced cold-seep activity are likely toinfluence benthic meiofauna communities, we characterised the nematode assemblage of this low-activity cold seep and compared it with other, now seasonally ice-free, Larsen A and B stations and other Antarctic shelf areas (Weddell Sea and Drake Passage), as well as cold-seep ecosystems world-wide.Principal Findings: The nematode community at the Larsen B seep site differed significantly from other Antarctic sites in terms of dominant genera, diversity and abundance. Densities in the seep samples were high (.2000 individuals per 10 cm2) and showed below-surface maxima at a sediment depth of 2–3 cm in three out of four replicates. All samples were dominated by one species of the family Monhysteridae, which was identified as a Halomonhystera species that comprised between 80 and 86% of the total community. The combination of high densities, deeper density maxima and dominance of one species is shared by many cold-seep ecosystems world-wide and suggested a possible dependence upon a chemosynthetic food source. Yet stable 13C isotopic signals (ranging between 221.9760.86% and 224.8561.89%) were indicative of a phytoplankton-derived food source.Conclusion: The recent ice-shelf collapse and enhanced food input from surface phytoplankton blooms were responsible for the shift from oligotrophic pre-collapse conditions to a phytodetritus-based community with high densities and low diversity. The parthenogenetic reproduction of the highly dominant Halomonhystera species is rather unusual for marine nematodes and may be responsible for the successful colonisation by this single species

Environmental factors controlling the distribution of rhodoliths. An integrated study based on seafloor sampling, ROV and side scan sonar data, offshore the W-Pontine Archipelago

The effects of different environmental factors controlling the distribution of different morphologies, sizes and growth forms of rhodoliths in the western Pontine Archipelago have been studied. The analysis of 231 grab samples has been integrated with 68 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) videos (22 h) and a high resolution ( < 1 m) side scan sonar mosaic of the seafloor surrounding the Archipelago, covering an area of approximately 460km2. Living rhodoliths were collected in approximately 10% of the grab samples and observed in approximately 30% of the ROV dives. The combination of sediment sampling, video surveys and acoustic facies mapping suggested that the presence of rhodoliths can be associated to the dishomogeneous high backscatter sonar facies and high backscatter facies. Both pralines and unattached branches were found to be the most abundant morphological groups (50% and 41% of samples, respectively), whereas boxwork rhodoliths were less common, accounting only for less than 10% of the total number of samples. Pralines and boxwork rhodoliths were almost equally distributed among large (28%), medium (36%) and small sizes (36%). Pralines generally presented a fruticose growth form (49% of pralines) even if pralines with encrusting-warty (36% of pralines) or lumpy (15% of pralines) growth forms were also present. Morphologies, sizes and growth forms vary mainly along the depth gradient. Large rhodoliths with a boxwork morphology are abundant at depth, whereas unattached branches and, in general, rhodoliths with a high protuberance degree are abundant in shallow waters. The exposure to storm waves and bottom currents related to geostrofic circulation could explain the absence of rhodoliths off the eastern side of the three islands forming the Archipelago

Amino acids in surface sediments of the Zannone Island shelf (Western Mediterranean Sea): Possible bioindicators of submarine hydrothermal activity

This study shows results from amino acid analysis of seafloor sediment sampled between ~80 and ~130 m depth, within an active hydrothermal field located off Zannone Island (Tyrrhenian Sea). The total hydrolysable amino acid (THAA) content was determined at eight stations, three located within the main hydrothermal depression (i.e. the Zannone Giant Pockmark, ZGP) and five located in the surrounding seafloor. THAA concentration ranged between ~2 and ~11 nmol mg−1 dw and the lowest THAA concentrations were found at stations located within the ZGP. Amino acids resistant to degradation or originating from bacteria (β-alanine, histidine, leucine, arginine and lysine) had higher relative abundances inside the ZGP, whereas amino acids susceptible to degradation or originating from cellular plasma (proline, phenylalanine and tyrosine) showed higher relative abundances outside the ZGP. Degradation and reactivity indices were calculated, and the sedimentary organic matter in the three outside ZGP stations B07, B08 and B09 was found to be the most labile and reactive. Together with THAA concentrations, sediment grain size and carbon percentages were measured at 12 stations, five located within the ZGP and seven located outside the ZGP. At all stations, the percentage of sand was ~75% or higher. Carbon percentages were lower in samples located inside the ZGP than in the surrounding stations. The southern outside ZGP station B12 was found to be similar in terms of amino acids composition to the three inside ZGP stations, suggesting the influence of the hydrothermal fluids at this station

Coralline algae on hard and soft substrata of a temperate mixed siliciclastic-carbonatic platform. Sensitive assemblages in the Zannone area (western Pontine Archipelago; Tyrrhenian Sea)

In the Mediterranean Sea, coralline algae assemblages (i.e. rhodolith beds and coralligenous assemblages) are considered biodiversity hotspots comparable to tropical reefs. However, information regarding their environmental distribution is still poor. In this view, relevant international actions have been adopted by the European Union to fill this gap. This work represents one of a few cases of predictive (fine-scale) habitats distribution map obtained through an integrated semi-automatic approach based on bathymetry, backscatter, seismic profiles, video, and sampling data. The used method has permitted the identification of nine morphological zones, four backscatter facies, and four benthic habitats distributed on the Zannone seafloor (western Pontine Archipelago; Tyrrhenian Sea). In particular, the finding of widespread sensitive habitats (i.e. coralligenous assemblages and rhodolith beds) reveals as the marine area off the western Pontine Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea) is highly suitable for their development (distance from the mainland, lack of river mouths), confirming the relevant ecological value of the Zannone area. Therefore, such information constitutes an update to the Mediterranean habitats distribution inventory, highlighting the need for the application of protection actions possibly targeted in the establishment of a Marine Protected Area

Biochemical characteristics of surface sediments on the eastern Weddell Sea continental shelf, Antarctica: is there any evidence of seasonal patterns?

Abstract Biochemical characteristics of seaXoor sediment oV Austasen in the southeastern Weddell Sea were assayed in samples recovered in the early autumn and late spring of 2000 and 2003, respectively. Sediment was separated in the grain-size fractions &gt;200 m and &lt;200 m to distinguish biochemical characteristics in the fraction available for benthic suspension feeders (&lt;200 m). In the bulk sediment, the lipid (LPD) and carbohydrate (CHO) contents were signiWcantly diVerent between seasons with higher LPD content in the early autumn and higher CHO content in the late spring. In the grain-size fractions &lt;200 m, the LPD and protein (PRT) contents were signiWcantly higher in the early autumn meaning that in this season the fraction available for benthic suspension feeders presented higher nutritive value. The relatively higher CHO concentrations observed in each fraction in the late spring were attributed to refractory matter, whereas the higher PRT and LPD concentrations found during the early autumn were associated with planktonic material settled after the summer phytoplankton bloom. Our results suggest that there is seasonal variation in the composition of organic matter in the sediment, with better nutritive quality in the early autumn, especially in the grain-size fraction available for benthic suspension feeders. These variations also suggest that the benthic community exploits the fresh organic matter accumulated after the summer throughout the Antarctic dark months leaving the sediment almost exhaust of LPD and with higher CHO contents, presumably of refractory nature, at the onset of the seasonal phytoplankton bloom of the following year

Biodiversity change after climate-induced ice-shelf collapse in the Antarctic

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

Biochemical characteristics of surface sediments on the eastern Weddell Sea shelf, Antarctica: is there any evidence of seasonal patterns?

9 pages, 4 figures, 4 tablesBiochemical characteristics of seafloor sediment off Austasen in the southeastern Weddell Sea were assayed in samples recovered in the early autumn and late spring of 2000 and 2003, respectively. Sediment was separated in the grain-size fractions >200 μm and <200 μm to distinguish biochemical characteristics in the fraction available for benthic suspension feeders (<200 μm). In the bulk sediment, the lipid (LPD) and carbohydrate (CHO) contents were significantly different between seasons with higher LPD content in the early autumn and higher CHO content in the late spring. In the grain-size fractions <200 μm, the LPD and protein (PRT) contents were significantly higher in the early autumn meaning that in this season the fraction available for benthic suspension feeders presented higher nutritive value. The relatively higher CHO concentrations observed in each fraction in the late spring were attributed to refractory matter, whereas the higher PRT and LPD concentrations found during the early autumn were associated with planktonic material settled after the summer phytoplankton bloom. Our results suggest that there is seasonal variation in the composition of organic matter in the sediment, with better nutritive quality in the early autumn, especially in the grain-size fraction available for benthic suspension feeders. These variations also suggest that the benthic community exploits the fresh organic matter accumulated after the summer throughout the Antarctic dark months leaving the sediment almost exhaust of LPD and with higher CHO contents, presumably of refractory nature, at the onset of the seasonal phytoplankton bloom of the following yearThe authors wish to thank the Captain and crew of the RV “Polarstern” for their eYcient help during the Weld work. The present work was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science through the project FILANT (REN2003-04236). The original manuscript improved with the comments of C.R. Smith and one anonymous reviewerPeer reviewe