Collection of large benthic invertebrates in sediment traps in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica
To study sinking particle sources and dynamics, sediment
traps were deployed at three sites in the Amundsen Sea for 1 year from
February–March 2012 and at one site from February 2016 to February 2018.
Unexpectedly, large benthic invertebrates were found in three sediment traps
deployed 130–567 m above the sea floor. The organisms included long and
slender worms, a sea urchin, and juvenile scallops of varying sizes. This is
the first reported collection of these benthic invertebrates in sediment
traps. The collection of these organisms, predominantly during the austral
winter, and their intact bodies suggests they were trapped in anchor ice,
incorporated into the overlying sea ice, and subsequently transported by ice
rafting. The observations imply that anchor ice forms episodically in the
Amundsen Sea and has biological impacts on benthic ecosystems. An
alternative hypothesis that these organisms spend their juvenile period
underneath the sea ice and subsequently sink to the seafloor is also
suggested.
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