Feeding ecology of benthic filter-feeders at Potter Cove, an Antarctic coastal ecosystem

TATIÁN, MARCOS; RICARDO SAHADE; GUILLERMO MERCURI; VERÓNICA L. FUENTES; JULIETA C. ANTACLI; ALEXIA STELLFELDT; GRACIELA B. ESNAL

POLAR BIOLOGY

Springer

Año: 2008 vol. 31 p. 509 - 517

0722-4060

A rich benthic filter-feeding community is present at Potter Cove in spite of some unfavorable conditions affecting their feeding ecology: these are low phytoplankton production even in summer, and high sedimentation rates. However, organic material that could fuel the benthic system, such as macroalgal debris, was detected in the water-bottom interface year-round. Mean assimilation efficiency of several sizes of macroalgal particles under different inorganic particulate percentage varied between 26-51 % in a clam, and 26-72% in two ascidian species. Estimated particle flux (feces) produced by ascidians varied according to species and density, being the C:N ratio of feces relatively high. Plasticity and benefit of the available food sources contribute to the success of the filter-feeding comunity in Potter Cove.