Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance

For the first time, field surveys for exploring the diversity and composition of shallow-water polyplacophorans in West Antarctica have been conducted. During the austral summer sampling campaigns of 2022, 2023 and 2024, a total of 1717 specimens of four species were collected from 21 localities. Th...

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Main Authors: Christian M. Ibáñez, Sebastián Rosenfeld, Ivka Carvajal, Jennifer Catalán, Germán Zapata-Hernández, Manuel Gacitúa-Leible, Rocio Vargas, Pamela Morales, Angie Díaz, Sergio A. Carrasco, Javier Sellanes, Sadie Mills, María Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Ecologies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/1/23
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author Christian M. Ibáñez
Sebastián Rosenfeld
Ivka Carvajal
Jennifer Catalán
Germán Zapata-Hernández
Manuel Gacitúa-Leible
Rocio Vargas
Pamela Morales
Angie Díaz
Sergio A. Carrasco
Javier Sellanes
Sadie Mills
María Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas
author_facet Christian M. Ibáñez
Sebastián Rosenfeld
Ivka Carvajal
Jennifer Catalán
Germán Zapata-Hernández
Manuel Gacitúa-Leible
Rocio Vargas
Pamela Morales
Angie Díaz
Sergio A. Carrasco
Javier Sellanes
Sadie Mills
María Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas
author_sort Christian M. Ibáñez
collection DOAJ
description For the first time, field surveys for exploring the diversity and composition of shallow-water polyplacophorans in West Antarctica have been conducted. During the austral summer sampling campaigns of 2022, 2023 and 2024, a total of 1717 specimens of four species were collected from 21 localities. The composition, abundance, and diversity estimate of the assemblages showed that richness decreased southward due to changes in species composition. The ordination analysis showed a high similarity among localities. Thus, of the seven shallow-water chiton species previously recorded in Antarctica, only four were recorded here. Of them, <i>Tonicina zschaui</i>, <i>Leptochiton kerguelensis</i>, and <i>Hemiarthrum setulosum</i> were the most common and abundant, while <i>Callochiton bouveti</i> was the rarest and least abundant species. The diversity of shallow-water polyplacophorans in this area of Antarctica is low compared to the higher number of species reported in other sub-Antarctic regions. It is suggested that the effect of ice cover on shallow-water habitats could affect the abundance and diversity of chitons. In turn, the high similarity of assemblages may be due to the transport of larvae and juveniles by ocean currents and rafting between the studied sites.
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spelling doaj-art-40e9b9a8be1a421eb9a49e555fa27bd52025-08-20T02:11:25ZengMDPI AGEcologies2673-41332025-03-01612310.3390/ecologies6010023Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and AbundanceChristian M. Ibáñez0Sebastián Rosenfeld1Ivka Carvajal2Jennifer Catalán3Germán Zapata-Hernández4Manuel Gacitúa-Leible5Rocio Vargas6Pamela Morales7Angie Díaz8Sergio A. Carrasco9Javier Sellanes10Sadie Mills11María Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas12One Health Institute, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileCentro de Investigación Gaia Antártica, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas 6210427, ChileDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Genoa Marine Center, 16149 Genova, ItalyDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileInstituto Milenio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y Subantárticos (MI-BASE), Santiago 7800003, ChileDepartamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070409, ChileDepartamento de Biología Marina, Centro ESMOI, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, ChileNational Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Wellington 6241, New ZealandDepartamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370251, ChileFor the first time, field surveys for exploring the diversity and composition of shallow-water polyplacophorans in West Antarctica have been conducted. During the austral summer sampling campaigns of 2022, 2023 and 2024, a total of 1717 specimens of four species were collected from 21 localities. The composition, abundance, and diversity estimate of the assemblages showed that richness decreased southward due to changes in species composition. The ordination analysis showed a high similarity among localities. Thus, of the seven shallow-water chiton species previously recorded in Antarctica, only four were recorded here. Of them, <i>Tonicina zschaui</i>, <i>Leptochiton kerguelensis</i>, and <i>Hemiarthrum setulosum</i> were the most common and abundant, while <i>Callochiton bouveti</i> was the rarest and least abundant species. The diversity of shallow-water polyplacophorans in this area of Antarctica is low compared to the higher number of species reported in other sub-Antarctic regions. It is suggested that the effect of ice cover on shallow-water habitats could affect the abundance and diversity of chitons. In turn, the high similarity of assemblages may be due to the transport of larvae and juveniles by ocean currents and rafting between the studied sites.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/1/23AntarcticachitonsSouthern Oceanbiodiversity
spellingShingle Christian M. Ibáñez
Sebastián Rosenfeld
Ivka Carvajal
Jennifer Catalán
Germán Zapata-Hernández
Manuel Gacitúa-Leible
Rocio Vargas
Pamela Morales
Angie Díaz
Sergio A. Carrasco
Javier Sellanes
Sadie Mills
María Cecilia Pardo-Gandarillas
Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
Ecologies
Antarctica
chitons
Southern Ocean
biodiversity
title Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
title_full Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
title_fullStr Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
title_full_unstemmed Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
title_short Polyplacophoran Assemblages in Shallow Waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula: Patterns of Diversity, Composition and Abundance
title_sort polyplacophoran assemblages in shallow waters of the west antarctic peninsula patterns of diversity composition and abundance
topic Antarctica
chitons
Southern Ocean
biodiversity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/1/23
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