Do life patterns differ between two Scotia Arc localities? A preliminary investigation of three erect Antarctic bryozoan species
Barnes, D.K.A. (1999). Do life patterns differ between two Scotia Arc localities? A preliminary investigation of three erect Antarctic bryozoan species. Antarctic Science 11(3): 275-282. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095410209900036X
In: Antarctic Science. Cambridge University Press: Oxford. ISSN 0954-1020; e-ISSN 1365-2079, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic organisms > Marine organisms > Aquatic animals > Marine invertebrates
Dimensions > Depth > Water depth
Distribution > Ecological distribution
Distribution > Geographical distribution > Vertical distribution
Epibionts
Polar waters
Polyps
Population functions > Growth
Reproduction > Asexual reproduction > Budding
Reproduction > Sexual reproduction
Spatial variations > Latitudinal variations
Isosecuriflustra rubefacta Moyano, 1996 [WoRMS]; Kymella polaris (Waters, 1904) [WoRMS]; Nematoflustra flagellata (Waters, 1904) [WoRMS]
PSW, Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Graham Land [Marine Regions]; PSW, Antarctica, South Orkney I., Signy I., Signy
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Erect bryozoans are extremely abundant and diverse in polar waters and individual species may span a wide range in latitude and bathymetry. A number of aspects of lifestyle, including polypide recycling, embryo production, distribution, growth form and epibiosis were compared in three species of erect bryozoans. These were collected from two locations; Signy Island (60 degree S) and Rothera Point, Adelaide Island (68 degree S) and a variety of depths. All three species were in similar stages of polypide cycling within and between the two sites. In the species Isosecuriflustra rubefacta and Nematoflustra flagellata the rate of brown body production (polypide generations) was slower at Signy Island than at Rothera Point. There was little difference between localities (within species) in the pattern of embryo production and no change in embryo size with depth. Embryos of I. Rubefacta, however, were significantly larger at Rothera Point than at Signy Island. The proportion of the community occupied by each species changed with depth, but all three species occurred in shallower water at Rothera Point than at Signy Island. Fouling by epibionts decreased with increasing depth and from Signy Island to Rothera Point, both in terms of per cent cover and number of colonizing taxa. Possible trends with depth and latitude are compared with other studies involving bryozoans. The literature on Antarctic benthic taxa, in general, is also considered to determine whether trends within the Bryozoa are reflected in other groups. |
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