Epiphytic diatom community structure and richness is determined by macroalgal host and location in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica).

ABSTRACT: The marine waters around the South Shetland Islands are paramount in the primary production of this Antarctic ecosystem. With the increasing effects of climate change and the annual retreat of the ice shelf, the importance of macroalgae and their diatom epiphytes in primary production also increases. The relationships and interactions between these organisms have scarcely been studied in Antarctica, and even less in the volcanic ecosystem of Deception Island, which can be seen as a natural proxy of climate change in Antarctica because of its vulcanism, and the open marine system of Livingston Island. In this study we investigated the composition of the diatom communities in the context of their macroalgal hosts and different environmental factors. We used a non-acidic method for diatom dig

SUBMITTER: Burfeid-Castellanos AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8087030 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature