Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Growth form analysis of epiphytic diatom communities of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Diatoms have been long collected from the Southern Ocean but almost no data exist for epiphytic communities, despite their high ecological significance as an important food source in Antarctic coastal food chains. Here, we present a first growth form analysis of diatoms associated with rhodophyte hosts from Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica. We performed this study to gather baseline information on the species composition of epiphytic diatom communities, determine the influence of some environmental variables on the diatom distribution patterns, and assess the caveats that must be taken into account in terms of sampling design. Macroalgal material was collected during the Italian Antarctic expeditions between 1990 and 2004. Epiphytic diatoms were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. In terms of growth forms, there were no significant differences between the diatom communities on the different macroalgal host species. Motile (mainly small-celled Navicula perminuta and other Navicula spp.) and adnate (Cocconeis spp.) diatoms dominated the community throughout the study period. Many of the macroalgal blades examined were also covered by epiphytic animals (calcareous bryozoans, hydroids) over most of their surface, with a significant effect on the associated diatom community structure. Our findings suggest that the bio-physicochemical characteristics of each sampling site affected the epiphytic diatom communities more than the substrate type provided by the macroalgal host or the sampling depth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahn I-Y, Chung H, Kang J-S, Kang S-H (1997) Diatom composition and biomass variability in nearshore waters of Maxwell Bay, Antarctica, during the 1992/1993 austral summer. Polar Biol 17:123–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Handal AY, Wulff A (2008) Marine epiphytic diatoms from the shallow sublittoral zone in Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica. Bot Mar 51:411–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreoli C, Tolomio C, Moro I, Radice M, Moschin E, Bellato S (1995) Diatoms and dinoflagellates in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea—Antarctica) during austral summer 1990. Polar Biol 15:465–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrigo KR, McClain CR (1994) Spring phytoplankton production in the western Ross Sea. Science 266:261–263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bargagli R (2005) Antarctic ecosystems: environmental contamination, climate change, and human impact. Ecol Stud, vol 175. Springer, Berlin

  • Barton ES (1902) Algae. In: Report on the collections of Natural History made in the Antarctic regions during the voyage of the “Southern Cross”. London, British Museum (Natural History)

  • Broady PA (1996) Diversity, distribution and dispersal of Antarctic terrestrial algae. Biodivers Conserv 5:1307–1335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cattaneo-Vietti R, Bavestrello G, Cerrano C, Gaino E, Mazzella L, Pansini M (2000) The role of sponges in the Terra Nova Bay ecosystem. In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Iancora A (eds) Ross Sea ecology. Italian Antarctic expeditions (1986–1995). Springer, Berlin, pp 539–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Conlan KE, Kim SL, Lenihan HS, Oliver JS (2004) Benthic changes during 10 years of organic enrichment by McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Mar Pollut Bull 49:43–60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conley DJ, Kilham SS, Theriot E (1989) Differences in silica content between marine and freshwater diatoms. Limnol Oceanogr 34(1):205–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cormaci M, Furnari G, Scammacca B (2000) The Macrophytobenthos of Terra Nova Bay. In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Iancora A (eds) Ross Sea ecology. Italian Antarctic expeditions (1986–1995). Springer, Berlin, pp 493–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett AB (1997) Water and wastewater quality monitoring, McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Environ Monit Assess 47:39–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham WL, Leventer A (1998) Diatom assemblages in surface sediments of the Ross Sea: relationship to present oceanographis conditions. Antarct Sci 10(2):134–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK, Robilliard GA (1971) Implications of pollution to the McMurdo Sound benthos. Antarct J US 6:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK, Watson D, Palmisano A, Barry JP, Oliver JS, Rivera D (1986) Distribution patterns of benthic microalgal standing stock at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Polar Biol 6:207–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Moreno JEA, Gerpe MS, Moreno VJ, Vodopivez C (1997) Heavy metals in Antarctic organisms. Polar Biol 17:131–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas B (1958) The ecology of the attached diatoms and other algae in a small stony stream. J Ecol 46(2):295–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duquesne S, Riddle MJ (2002) Biological monitoring of heavy metal contamination in coastal waters in the vicinity of Casey Station, Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Polar Biol 25:206–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards DD, McFeters GA, Venkatesan MI (1998) Distribution of Clostridium perfringens and fecal sterols in benthic coastal marine environment influenced by sewage outfall from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Appl Environ Microb 64(7):2596–2600

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenberg CG (1843) Verbreitung und Einfluss des mikroskopischen Lebens in Süd- und Nord-America. Abh Königl Akad Wiss Berlin 1:291–445

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sayed SZ (1971) Observations on phytoplankton bloom in the Weddell Sea. In: Llano GA, Wallen IE (eds) Biology of the Antarctic Seas IV, Washington DC. Antarct Res Ser 17:301–313

  • Everitt DA, Thomas DP (1986) Observations of seasonal changes in diatoms at inshore localities near Davis Station, East Antarctica. Hydrobiology 139:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foslie M (1905) Den botaniske sampling. Det Kgl. Norske Vidensk. Selsk Skr Mus Aarsberet (1904):15–18

  • Foslie M (1907) Antarctic and subantarctic Corallinaceae. Botanik 4:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry B, Wainright S (1991) Diatom sources of 13C-rich carbon in marine food webs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 76(2):149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambi MC, Mazzella L (1991) Second Italian oceanographic expedition in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: preliminary report on the quantitative and functional studies of benthic communities of Terra Nova Bay. Nat Sc Comm Ant Ocean Camp 1989–90 Data Rep I:349–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambi MC, Lorenti M, Russo GF, Scipione MB (1994) Benthic associations of the shallow hard bottoms off Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea: zonation, biomass and population structure. Antarct Sci 6(4):449–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambi MC, Buia MC, Mazzella L, Lorenti M, Scipione MB (2000) Spatio-temporal variability in the structure of benthic populations in a physically controlled system off Terra Nova Bay: the shallow hard bottoms. In: Faranda FM, Guiglielmo L, Ionora A (eds) Ross Sea ecology. Springer, Berlin, pp 527–538

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Garrison DL, Buck KR, Fryxell GA (1987) Algal assemblages in Antarctic pack ice and in ice-edge plankton. J Phycol 23:564–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gepp A, Gepp ES (1905) Antarctic algae. J Bot 43:105–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Gepp A, Gepp ES (1907) Marine algae. I. Phaeophyceae and florideae. Nat Hist 3:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosselain V, Hudon C, Cattaneo A, Gagnon P, Planas D, Rochefort D (2005) Physical variables driving epiphytic algal biomass in a dense macrophyte bed of the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada). Hydrobiology 534:11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudon C, Bourget E (1983) The effect of light on the vertical structure of epibenthic diatom communities. Bot Mar 26(7):317–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudon C, Legendre P (1987) The ecological implications of growth forms in epibenthic diatoms. J Phycol 23:434–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenihan HS, Oliver JS (1995) Anthropogenic and natural disturbances to marine benthic communities in Antarctica. Ecol Appl 5(2):311–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ligowki R (2002) Diatoms in different habitats of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. In: John J (ed) Proceedings of the 15th international diatom symposium, Perth, Australia. ARG Gantner Verlag, Ruggell, Liechtenstein, pp 173–191

  • Nelson DM, Treguer P (1992) Role of silicon as a limiting nutrient to Antarctic diatoms: evidence from kinetic studies in the Ross Sea ice-edge zone. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 80(2–3):255–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romagnoli T, Bavestrello G, Cucchiari EM, De Stefano M, Di Camillo CG, Pennesi C, Puce S, Totti C (2006) Microalgal communities epibiontic on the marine hydroid Eudendrium racemosum in the Ligurian Sea during an annual cycle. Mar Biol 151:537–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosso A (1991) Infralittoral Bryozoa associated to macroalgae from the First Italian Antarctic oceanographic expedition (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea). Bol Soc Biol Concept 62:179–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosso A, Sanfilippo R (2000) Shallow-water bryozoans and serpuloideans from the Ross Sea (Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica). In: Faranda FM, Guiglielmo L, Ionora A (eds) Ross Sea ecology. Springer, Berlin, pp 515–526

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Round FE (1981) The ecology of algae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott P, McMinn A, Hosie G (1994) Physical parameters influencing diatom community structure in eastern Antarctic sea ice. Pol Biol 14:507–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snoeijs P (1994) Distribution of epiphytic diatom species composition, diversity and biomass on different macroalgal hosts along seasonal and salinity gradients in the Baltic Sea. Diatom Res 9(1):189–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spaulding SA, Van de Vijver B, Hodgson DA, McKnight DM, Verleyen E, Stanish L (2010) Diatoms as indicators of environmental changes in Antarctic and subantarctic freshwaters. In: Smol JP, Stoermer EF (eds) The diatoms: applications for environmental and Earth sciences. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 267–283

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland DL (2008) Surface-associated diatoms from marine habitats at Cape Evans, Antarctica, including the first record of living Eunotogramma marginopunctatum. Polar Biol 31:879–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JC, de la Rey PA, van Rensburg L (2005) Recommendations for the collection, preparation and enumeration of diatoms from riverine habitats for water quality monitoring in South Africa. Afr J Aquat Sci 30(1):65–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DP, Jiang J (1986) Epiphytic diatoms of the inshore marine area near Davis Station. Hydrobiology 140:193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson BW, Riddle MJ, Stark JS (2003) Cost-efficient methods for marine pollution monitoring at Casey Station, East Antarctica: the choice of sieve mesh-size and taxonomic resolution. Mar Pollut Bull 46:232–243

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tin T, Fleming ZL, Hughes KA, Ainley DG, Convey P, Moreno CA, Pfeiffer S, Scott J, Snape I (2009) Review. Impacts of local human activities on the Antarctic environment. Antarct Sci 21(1):3–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vettorato B, Laudares-Silva R, Talgatti D, Menezes M (2010) Evaluation of the sampling methods applied to phycoperiphyton studies in the Ratones River estuary, Brazil. Acta Limnol Bras 22(3):257–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warnke DA, Richter J, Oppenheimer CH (1973) Characteristics of the nearshore environment off the south coast of Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Limnol Oceanogr 18:131–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wulff A, Iken K, Quartino ML, Al-Handal A, Wiencke C, Clayton MN (2011) Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic. In: Wiencke C (ed) Biology of Polar benthic algae. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, pp 23–52

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all colleagues who contributed to the collection of macroalgae from Terra Nova Bay during the austral summers considered in this study: Buia M.C. (collection in 1995); Nigro M. and Regoli F. (1997/1998, 1999/2000), Micaletto G. (2000/2001), Piraino S. (2001/2002), and Patti F.P. (2004). We recall here with affection Lucia Mazzella (1947–1999), who collected the samples in the austral summer of 1993/1994 and contributed initially to the study of benthic diatoms at Terra Nova Bay. This study was financially supported by the Second University of Naples as part of a PhD thesis and by Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (PNRA) with the coordination of the National Research Council (CNR).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second University of Naples, 81100, Caserta, Italy

    Roksana Majewska & Mario De Stefano

  2. Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn, 80077, Ischia, Naples, Italy

    Maria Cristina Gambi

  3. Marche Polytechnic University, 60121, Ancona, Italy

    Cecilia Maria Totti & Chiara Pennesi

Authors
  1. Roksana Majewska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Cristina Gambi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cecilia Maria Totti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chiara Pennesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mario De Stefano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roksana Majewska.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Majewska, R., Gambi, M.C., Totti, C.M. et al. Growth form analysis of epiphytic diatom communities of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Polar Biol 36, 73–86 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1240-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1240-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation