Kelp forest as a habitat for mobile epifauna: case study of Caprella septentrionalis Kröyer, 1838 (Amphipoda, Caprellidae) in an Arctic glacial fjord

Distribution and abundance of the amphipod Caprella septentrionalis in relation to environmental conditions and habitat preferences were investigated in a kelp forest in Hornsund, Spitsbergen. Three sampling sites differed in hydrodynamics, organic and inorganic suspension concentration, and sedimen...

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Published inPolar research Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 21037 - 6
Main Authors Ronowicz, Marta, Legeżyńska, Joanna, Kukliński, Piotr, Włodarska-Kowalczuk, Maria
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Spånga Routledge 01.01.2013
Open Academia
Norwegian Polar Institute
Subjects
Algae
Arctic fjord
Biology
Caprellid amphipod
distribution
Ecology
Ecosystem biology
Ecosystems
Environmental conditions
Fluid mechanics
Forests
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Glaciers
kelp forest
macroalgae
population structure
Studies
White Sea
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Summary:Distribution and abundance of the amphipod Caprella septentrionalis in relation to environmental conditions and habitat preferences were investigated in a kelp forest in Hornsund, Spitsbergen. Three sampling sites differed in hydrodynamics, organic and inorganic suspension concentration, and sedimentation rates. None of these abiotic factors or species of a macroalgal host appeared to have a significant influence on C. septentrionalis abundance and size range. An apparent preference towards the blade parts of the algal thalli was observed. These results support the idea of C. septentrionalis as a generalist Arctic-boreal species that takes advantage of the protective nature of kelp forests.
ISSN:1751-8369
0800-0395
1751-8369
DOI:10.3402/polar.v32i0.21037