Massive inflows of terrigenous sediment into Potter Cove during austral summer and the effects on filter feeders: a laboratory essay

MERCURI GUILLERMO; TATIÁN, MARCOS; FUENTES, VERÓNICA L.; MOMO, FERNANDO; SAHADE, RICARDO

Berichte zur Pölar und Meeresforschung/Reports on Polar and Marine Research

Alfred Wegener Institute

Lugar: Bremerhaven; Año: 2008 vol. 571 p. 111 - 117

1618-3193

We performed an in vitro experiment with the bivalve Laternula elliptica (King & Broderip, 1831), which dominates the Antarctic infauna. We evaluated the transformation of the organic matter from three artificial diets to the sediment, analysing the chemical composition of the biodeposits. In our study, the first diet supply may simulate a normal feeding situation, the second one a highly stressful condition due to the addition of inorganic material and the last diet supply may simulate a possible benthic diatom resuspension event,during a stressful period. Preliminary results are presented. In a subsequent study, the analyses will be extrapolated to the population of L. elliptica.