Antarctic scallop (Adamussium colbecki) spatial population variability along the Victoria Land Coast, Antarctica

Along the Victoria Land Coast, the population structure of the Antarctic scallop (Adamussium colbecki) was studied in McMurdo Sound (New Harbor), Terra Nova Bay, and Wood Bay, on a latitudinal span of 3 degrees. At a large spatial scale, most relevant differences between the scallop populations are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar biology 2001, Vol.24 (2), p.139-143
Main Authors: CHIANTORE, Mariachiara, CATTANEO-VIETTI, Riccardo, BERKMAN, Paul Arthur, NIGRO, Marco, VACCHI, Marino, SCHIAPARELLI, Stefano, ALBERTELLI, Giancarlo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adamussium colbecki
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Antarctica
Asteroidea
Biological and medical sciences
Biomass
Demecology
Environmental factors
Food supply
Frequency distribution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Harbors
Marine
Marine biology
Mollusks
Population structure
Predators
Protozoa. Invertebrata
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Summary:Along the Victoria Land Coast, the population structure of the Antarctic scallop (Adamussium colbecki) was studied in McMurdo Sound (New Harbor), Terra Nova Bay, and Wood Bay, on a latitudinal span of 3 degrees. At a large spatial scale, most relevant differences between the scallop populations are linked to their depth distributions. The McMurdo and Wood Bay populations show a shallower bathymetric distribution with maximum abundance between 5 and 15 m depth. In contrast, inside Terra Nova Bay, at sites with similar near-shore bathymetric profiles, the maximum biomass is found between 40 and 70m. This difference can be related to the different ice-cover persistency characterising these two areas, being less at Terra Nova Bay than in the other localities. Differences arise also in the reproductive period: at McMurdo, it seems to occur early in the austral spring, while at Terra Nova Bay, mature females are observed at the beginning of February. Also at a small scale, in sites only a few miles from each other, the population structures inside Terra Nova Bay and Wood Bay vary in terms of abundance and size frequency distribution, suggesting various environmental and biological constraints. Among environmental factors, bottom features (slope, sediment grain size, organic content) and water-column food supply during the summer months may be considered. In addition, as Adamussium is preyed upon by starfishes and fishes, its abundance and population structure may be affected by predators and their abundance.
ISSN:0722-4060
1432-2056
DOI:10.1007/s003000000191