Assemblages of certain benthic molluscs along the southwestern Atlantic: from subtidal to deep sea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We analyse the distribution of Gastropods and Chitons from shallow to deep waters along the southwestern Atlantic Ocean off Argentina and discuss possible factors determining the observed biogeographic patterns.

Results

Three major biogeographic groups are defined on the basis of Gastropod and Chiton species associations, i.e., continental shelf (< 350 m), upper continental slope (> 350-2000 m) and lower continental slope (2000-3000 m). Bathymetry appears as the main factor modifying large-scale distribution of the fauna at a. In this scenario, species associations are determined by marine currents that clearly occur at a particular and well defined depth. No arrangement of species by geographic location was found in assemblages from the continental shelf and uppe

SUBMITTER: Teso V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6880383 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature