This study was carried out in the lab to identify species that were collected from three sites (Cape Smellie, Past Clark and Nunatak) on Byers peninsula, Livingston Island South Shetland Islands. The study was to investigate whether the length of time a site had been ice free affected community structure. It was found that Cape Smellie had the highest species richness with sixteen more species than Past Clark and twenty-nine more species than Nunatak. Cape Smellie also had the highest of species and was the site that had been ice free for the longest time period +50 years and the Nunatak samples showed a higher diversity than the other two site samples and is the site that has been ice free for less than 10 years. All of the sites sampled were found to have high numbers of Laevilltorina calignosa, Donacidae, Spinonid, Plathyhelminthe and Amphipods, all of which are highly adaptive species to different stress gradients and are all found worldwide in different types of ecosystems. The main findings in this study suggest that glacial retreat could be a possible cause for the increase in species as the data shows that glacial retreat over time co-insides with the increase in species abundant richness and diversity found on the different sites. There is a good possibility that there are different stages of colonisation by different species being seen in this study, and that location of the sites and the different stress gradients, substrata and exposure are possible controlling factors in the type of species and their found at the different sites. All three study sites had ten of the same species present; amphipods two, three, four, six, and nine, Terrebellida, Nephtyidae, Donacidae, Plathyhelminthe one and two and Enchytraeidae, but as likely, the substrata and different stress gradients i.e. wave intensity tolerance to freezing, the dominant species found on the study sites at Byers peninsula also correspond with the majority of studies carried out on other islands in and around the Antarctic region.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods and materials
- Collection method in the field
- Site descriptions
- Method used in lab
- Statically analysis used
- Hypothesis
- Collection method in the field
- Results
- ANOVA on species richness abundant's and diversity
- MDS analysis
- ANOSIM
- SIMPER Species that define the communities
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendix
- Arial photographs of ice retreat on Livingston Island
- Site pictures of sample sites
- Identification recourses used
- Amphipod identification list
- Species list with identification pictures
- Presence absence list
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to investigate the relationship between glacial retreat and community structure in three sites on Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island. The study focuses on whether the length of time a site has been ice-free affects the species richness and diversity of the benthic communities. Key themes explored include:- The impact of glacial retreat on Antarctic intertidal communities
- Species richness and diversity in relation to ice-free time
- Environmental stressors and their influence on community structure
- Adaptation strategies of intertidal species to extreme conditions
- The role of feeding strategies in shaping Antarctic intertidal communities
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Abstract
This section provides a concise overview of the study's methodology, findings, and key conclusions. It highlights the relationship between glacial retreat and increased species richness and diversity in the studied sites, as well as the dominant species found and potential controlling factors.Introduction
This chapter sets the context for the study by providing background information on the harsh environment of the Antarctic, the historical perception of low species diversity, and the importance of understanding intertidal communities. It explores key environmental gradients and stressors faced by these communities, including ice scoring and its impact on species and habitats. The chapter also discusses the role of physical tolerances in species distribution and the environmental stress model, which highlights the influence of stress gradients on species richness and diversity. It further emphasizes the challenges of nutrient intake in the Antarctic environment, particularly the prevalence of suspension and deposit feeding strategies, and the potential impact of niche fragmentation on species diversity and biomass.Methods and Materials
This chapter details the methods used to collect and analyze data. It describes the three study sites on Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, and the specific collection methods used in the field. The chapter also outlines the laboratory methods used for analyzing the collected samples, the statistical analysis techniques employed, and the hypothesis formulated for the study.Results
This section presents the main findings of the study. It focuses on the analysis of species richness, abundance, and diversity across the three study sites, as well as the results of the MDS analysis and ANOSIM, which examine the differences in community structure among the sites.SIMPER Species that define the communities
This chapter focuses on the specific species that contribute most significantly to the differences in community structure between the study sites. It analyzes the contributions of individual species to overall similarity and dissimilarity, providing insights into the species that define each community.Discussion
This chapter offers a comprehensive discussion of the findings, considering the implications of the study's results for understanding the relationship between glacial retreat and community structure. It explores the possible causes for the observed differences in species richness and diversity across the study sites, considering the role of time since ice-free conditions, location, substrata, and stress gradients. The chapter also discusses the potential influence of colonization processes and the relevance of the study findings in the context of other research on Antarctic intertidal communities.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study focuses on the impact of glacial retreat on Antarctic intertidal communities. Key terms include: glacial retreat, species richness, species diversity, community structure, environmental stressors, adaptation strategies, feeding strategies, benthic assemblages, ice scoring, intertidal zone, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.- Quote paper
- Andrew Thirdborough (Author), 2011, Community structure and species abundant’s in Antarctic Community’s on Livingston island Byers Peninsula, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/276442
