Benthic communities in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean: Conservation value of animal forests at the Burdwood Bank slope

SCHEJTER, LAURA; GENZANO, GABRIEL; GAITÁN, ESTEBAN; PEREZ, CARLOS D.; BREMEC, CLAUDIA S.

AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Año: 2020 vol. 30 p. 426 - 439

1052-7613

1. The characterization of benthic communities at the Burdwood Bank slope(≥200 m depth) is provided, comprising data from the marine protected area(MPA) Namuncurá II (created in December 2018), as well as from some deepbathyal surrounding areas in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. This information wasacquired during two research cruises with RV Puerto Deseado (Argentina) during2016 and 2017.2. Marine animal forests were detected in the study area: coral gardens, mainly composedof alcyonaceans, were detected in the south and west of Burdwood Bank(MPA Namuncurá II) and neighbouring areas, whereas pennatulacean aggregationswere detected in the north-west of the plateau. The three-dimensionalstructures of live but also dead corals provide substrate and refuge to many associatedspecies. Benthic communities dominated by sponges were also recordedbetween 200 and 300 m in depth.3. Six sites that meet the characteristics of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs)are reported.4. Conservation strategies applied to scarcely known austral Argentinean waters ledto the establishment of a pioneer MPA (Namuncurá I). Following the managementplan that aimed to establish the biodiversity of Namuncurá I and neighbouringareas, the area of protection has now been enlarged to include the southern slopeof the bank (currently Namuncurá II), where marine animal forests were detected,at depths below 200 m. The data presented here provide empirical evidence tosupport the conservation value of the region.