Spatial patterns of demersal fish assemblages during the austral summer in Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, West Antarctic.

F. LLOMPART; M. DELPIANI; M.E. LATTUCA; G. DELPIANI; A. CRUZ-JIMÉNEZ; S.G. CEBALLOS; J.M. DIAS DE ASTARLOA; F.A. VANELLA; D.A. FERNÁNDEZ

ANTARCTIC SCIENCE

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2015 vol. 27 p. 109 - 117

0954-1020

During the research programme conducted on the OV Puerto Deseado in the summers of 2011 and 2013, 36 stations were sampled using a demersal net at depths between 53?590m in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. A total 3378 fish specimens belonging to 36 species were recorded. Notothenidae was the best-represented family in species number, with Lepidonotothen nudifrons, L. larseni and Trematomus scotti being the most numerous species. Of the fish assemblages, 20% of the species were considered as dominant, 10% as common, 13% as occasional and 57% as rare. Six groups (and two sub-groups) were obtained by the ordination diagram based on geographical location: group 1 = Gerlache Strait, group 2 = Deception Islands, group 3 = Biscoe Island, group 4 = between Elephant and King George islands, group 5 = northern Antarctic Peninsula, and group 6 = South Shetland Islands, with sub-groups 6a shallower South Shetland Islands and 6b deeper South Shetland Islands. Sampling depth and water temperature significantly explained the spatial pattern. A latitudinal pattern of decreasing abundance from north-east to south-west was found in L. larseni and the opposite in T. scotti. The predictability of fish composition in the assemblages? areas could be a useful tool for ecosystem-based management.