Community structure and species abundant’s in Antarctic Community’s on Livingston island Byers Peninsula

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods and materials
  • Collection method in the field
    • Site descriptions
  • Method used in lab
  • Statically analysis used
  • Hypothesis
• 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.