Author: Camille Moreau
Keywords: Mollusca; Antarctica; Amundsen Sea; Bivalvia; Gastropoda; Scaphopoda; Aplacophora; Monoplacophora; Polyplacophora; BIOPEARL II

amundsen_sea_molluscs

Camille Moreau^1, Katrin Linse^1, Huw Griffiths^1, David Barnes^1, Stefanie Kaiser^2, Adrian Glover^3, Chester Sands^1, Jan Strugnell^4, Peter Enderlein^1, Paul  Geissler^5

1 British Antarctic Survey (BAS), High Cross  Madingley Road, CB3 0ET, Cambridge, United Kingdom; 2 Biocentre Grindel and Zoological Museum, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; 3 Natural History Museum, London, , United Kingdom; 4 La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, , Australia; 5 British Antarctic Survey (BAS), CB3 0ET, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Corresponding author(s): Camille Moreau (mr.moreau.camille@gmail.com)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parenthesis), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in paranthesis), and doi of the data paper.

Abstract

Information regarding the molluscs in this dataset is based on the epibenthic sledge (EBS) samples collected during the cruise BIOPEARL II / JR179 RRS James Clark Ross in the austral summer 2008. A total of 34 epibenthic sledge deployments have been performed at five locations in the Amundsen Sea at Pine Island Bay (PIB) and the Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE) at depths ranging from 476 to 3501m. This presents a unique and important collection for the Antarctic benthic biodiversity assessment as the Amundsen Sea remains one of the least known regions in Antarctica. Indeed the work presented in this dataset is based on the first benthic samples collected with an EBS in the Amundsen Sea. However we assume that the data represented are an underestimation of the real fauna present in the Amundsen Sea. In total 9261 specimens belonging to 6 classes 55 families and 97 morphospecies were collected. The species richness per station varied between 6 and 43. Gastropoda were most species rich (50 species) followed by Bivalvia (37), Aplacophora (5), Scaphopoda (3) and one from each of Polyplacophora and Monoplacophora.

Keywords: Mollusca; Antarctica; Amundsen Sea; Bivalvia; Gastropoda; Scaphopoda; Aplacophora; Monoplacophora; Polyplacophora; BIOPEARL II

Project details

Project title: BIOPEARL II
Personnel: Camille Moreau
Funding: This study is part of the British Antarctic Survey Polar Science for Planet Earth Programme funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.
Study area descriptions/descriptor: The study area of this dataset was set in the eastern Amundsen Sea and focused on the continental shelf, upper slope and over-deepened shelf basins of the Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE) and Pine Island Bay (PIB). This dataset presents species occurrences and species richness of the individual epibenthic sledge (EBS) deployments. PIB appears to be the third largest drainage outlet of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (Lowe and Anderson, 2002). This area was chosen for the
BIOPEARL II cruise as it has never been subject to benthic sampling before. Furthermore it shows a unique oceanography over its continental shelf defined by the Antarctic Circumpolar Deep Water (Jenkins et al., 2004). The presence of deep basins and troughs allows the trapping of warm Circumpolar deep Water (3.5°C above the in situ freezing point) on the continental shelf of the ASE and PIB (Jacobs et al., 2011).
Vaughan (2008) assumed that these particularly warm waters are one of the reasons of the high melting rate reported at the base of the floating ice shelf in these regions. The seabed of the ASE, which is of particular interest in this benthic work, presents the marks of historic, glaciations and deglaciations, together with icebergs scouring and melt-water channels (Dowdeswell et al., 2006; Nitsche et al., 2007; Larter et al., 2009; Noormets et al., 2009). One of the other characteristics of the area is the perennial sea ice cover (Graham et al., 2010).
Design description: The Amundsen Sea is a very under sampled area on the Antarctic continental shelf, according to a recent gap analysis carried out by Griffiths et al. (2011). BIOPEARL (Biodiversity dynamics : phylogeography, evolution and radiation of life in Antarctica), a core project at the British Antarctic Survey, studied the southern Bellingshausen and eastern Amundsen seas to assess the biodiversity at local and regional scales (comparable to the BIOPEARL 2006 cruise to the Scotia Sea) and investigate the phylogenetic relationships of selected marine invertebrate taxa and their biogeography in reference to the climatological, oceanographical and geological history of the Bellingshausen/Amundsen Seas. The results are used to determine of the role of Antarctica and extreme environments in general in evolutionary innovation and generation of global biodiversity. The species presence data are added to SOMBASE (Southern Ocean Mollusc Database www.antarctica.ac.uk/sombase). SOMBASE generated initial core data system upon which SCAR’s Marine Biodiversity Information Network (SCAR-MarBIN) was built. As SCAR-MarBIN is the Antarctic Node of the international OBIS network, the SOMBASE data system was designed to comply with the Darwin Core standards. Regarding the dataset, the existing Data Toolkit from SCARMarBIN was used (http://www.scarmarbin.be/documents/SM-FATv1.zip), following the OBIS schema (http://iobis.org/data/schema-and-metadata). The dataset was uploaded in the ANTOBIS database (the geospatial component of SCAR-MarBIN), and the taxonomy was matched against the Register of Antarctic Marine Species, using the Taxon Match tool (http://www.scarmarbin.be/rams.php?p=match). The dataset meets the Darwin Core requirements and was designed around this data schema.

Data published through GBIF: http://ipt.biodiversity.aq/resource.do?r=amundsenseamolluscs_biopearl_ii

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: The present dataset focus on six molluscs classes (Mollusca: Aplacophora, Monoplacophora, Polyplacophora, Gastropoda, Bivalvia & Scaphopoda). It includes respectively for each class:

Aplacophora
Taxonomic ranks
Species: Aplacophora sp1, Aplacophora sp2, Aplacophora sp3, Aplacophora sp4, Aplacophora sp5

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Polyplacophora
Taxonomic ranks
Family: Leptochitonidae
Genus: Leptochiton
Species: Leptochiton sp

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Monoplacophora
Taxonomic ranks
Family: Micropilinidae
Genus: Micropilina
Species: Micropilina sp

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Gastropoda
Taxonomic ranks
Family: Scissurellidae, Ataphridae, Mangeliidae, Capulidae, Calliotropidae, Seguenzioidea, Turbinidae, Turridae, Eulimidae, Limacinidae, Eatoniellidae, Cancellarioidea, Naticidae, Rissoidae, Diaphinidae, Fissurellidae, Raphitomidae, Cylichnidae, Lepetidae, Orbitestellidae, Buccinidae, Mathildidae, Newtoniellidae, Marginellidae
Genus: Anatoma, Trochaclis, Lorabela, Belalora, Torellia, Capulus, Calliotropis, Brookula, Lissotesta, Liotella, Cirsonella, Balcis, Onoba, Hemiaclis, Limacina, Eatoniella, Cancellaridae, Falsilunatia, Sinuber, Powellisetia, Rissoid, Toledonia, Fissurellidae, Cornisepta, Zeidora, Pleurotomella, Cylichna, Iothia, Microdiscula, Pareuthria, Turritellopsis, Cerithiella, Marginella
Species: Anatoma euglypta, Trochaclis antarctica, Lorabela pelseneeri, Belalora cf striatula, Torellia insignis, Capulus sp, Calliotropis pelseneeri, Brookula cf charleenae, Brookula sp, Lissotesta sp, Liotella sp, Liotella cf endeavourensis, Cirsonella extrema, Turbinid sp, Turrid sp 1, Turrid sp 2, Balcis sp, Onoba cf gelida, Hemiaclis incolorata, Limacina helicina, Eatoniella cf kerguelenensis regularis, Cancellaridae sp, Falsilunatia sp, Sinuber  multistriatum, Powellisetia cf deserta, Rissoidae sp, Toledonia sp 1, Toledonia sp 2, Toledonia cf elata, Fissurellidae sp 1, Fisserulidae sp 2, Cornisepta antarctica, Zeidora antarctica, Pleurotomella cf simillima, Cylichna sp, Iothia sp, Microdiscula sp, Pareuthria cf innocens, Turritellopsis gratissima, Cerithiella cf lineata, Cerithiella cf erecta, Fissurelidae sp 2, Marginella ealesae

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Bivalvia
Taxonomic ranks
Family: Nuculanidae, Nuculidae, Yoldiidae, Limopsidae, Philobryidae, Mytilidae, Limidae, Pectinidae, Propeamussiidae, Thyasiridae, Motacutidae, Lasaeidae, Cyamiidae, Carditidae, Thraciidae, Cuspidariidae, Lyonsiidae, Poromyidae, Neoleptonidae, Siliculidae, Arcidae, Vesicomyidae, Tindariidae, Bathyspinulidae
Genus: Propeleda, Ennucula, Yoldiella, Limopsis, Philobrya, Adacnarca, Dacrydium, Limatula, Adamussium, Hyalopecten, Cyclochlamys, Thyasira, Mysella, Waldo, Cyamiocardium, Cyclocardia, Thracia, Cuspidaria, Myonera, Lyonsia, Poromya, Neolepton, Silicula, Bathyarca, Vesicomya, Tindaria, Bathyspinula, Cyclopecten
Species: Propeleda longicaudata, Ennucula sp, Yoldiella ecaudata, Yoldiella sabrina, Yoldiella valettei, Yoldiella cf profundorum, Yoldiella oblonga, Yoldiella sp, Limopsis longipilosa, Limopsis knudseni, Philobrya sublaevis, Philobrya quadrata, Adacnarca nitens, Dacrydium albidum, Limatula Limatula sp, Limatula Antarctolima sp, Adamussium colbecki, Hyalopecten pudicus, Cyclopecten pteriola, Cyclochlamys gaussiana, Thyasira sp, Mysella antarctica, Waldo sp, Cyamiocardium denticulatum, Cyclocardia astartoides, Thracia meridionalis, Cuspidaria infelix, Cuspidaria minima, Myonera fragilissima, Lyonsia arcaeformis, Poromya antarctica, Neolepton sp, Silicula rouchi, Bathyarca sinuata, Vesicomya sirenkoi, Tindaria sp, Bathyspinula sp

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Scaphopoda
Taxonomic ranks
Family: Dentaliidae, Pulsellidae, Gadilidae
Genus: Dentalium, Striopulsellum, Cadulus
Species: Dentalium majorinum, Striopulsellum sp, Cadulus sp

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: Amundsen Sea, Antarctica
Coordinates: 74°29'24''S and 70°1'12''S Latitude; 110°5'24''W and 104°20'24''W Longitude 

Temporal coverage: February 18, 2008 - April 11, 2008

Natural collections description

Parent collection identifier: British Antarctic Survey
Collection name: BIOPEARL II EBS Molluscs
Collection identifier: Moreau/Linse
Specimen preservation method: Alcohol

Methods

Method step description: - Epibenthic sledge sampling in the Amundsen Sea
- Once on the deck, the content of the samplers from the first deployment was immediately fixed in 96% undenaturated and pre-cooled (at -20°C) ethanol (Linse,
2008) and kept for a minimum of 48 hours in a -20°C freezer and the samplers
from the second deployment were fixed in 4 % buffered formalin. If six EBS deployments were carried out at a station, four were fixed in ethanol and two in
formaldehyde. Afterwards, these samples were washed in cold sea water and transferred to 80 % ethanol. The treatment in formalin allows cytological studies.
- The taxonomic identification was performed in the British Antarctic Survey laboratory using a stereomicroscope.
Study extent description: Five locations in the Pine Island Bay (PIB) and Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE) at different depths ranging from 476 to 3501m have been sampled using an epibenthic sledge (EBS). Most deployments were made along depth transects from shallow to overdeepened continental shelf and to deeper slope (Figure 1 and 2). At three of the five locations samples were taken at ~500m, ~1000m and ~ 1500m depths, due to the particular geomorphology (presence of deep troughs close to the continent) of the ASE continental plateau. At each site, replicates (individual stations) were taken to assess habitat homogeneity and their number depended on water depth; three to six replicates were taken at 500m and two at 1000m, 1500m and 3500m depth. The BIOPEARL II cruise report is available from the British Oceanographic Data Centre (www.bodc.ac.uk/data/information_and_inventories/cruise_inventory/report/8277).
Sampling description: This dataset presents 34 EBS deployments: 21 of which were performed at a depth
of 500m at four different sites (BIO3-1, BIO4-3, BIO5-3 and BIO 6-3) , six at a
1000m depth in three areas (BIO4-2, BIO5-2 and BIO6-2), five at a depth of 1500m
at three different sites (BIO4-1, BIO5-1 and BIO6-1), and two replicates at site BIO8-
3500 in 3500m depth. For three of the five locations, sites were positioned along
vertical transects sampling at 500m, 1000m and 1500m with repeat deployments of
the EBS. The sites BIO4-1, BIO4-2 and BIO4-3 and BIO6-1, BIO6-2 and BIO6-3
were situated in the same local area; while the sites BIO5-1, BIO5-2 and BIO5-3 were dispersed over a wider area because of ice cover. The EBS consist of on an epi-(below)
and a supra-(above) net. Each of these nets has a mesh size of 500μm and an opening
of 100x33cm. The cod end of both nets is equipped with net-buckets containing a
300μm mesh window (Brenke, 2005). The EBS was trawled for 10 minutes on the sea
bed at a 1 knot speed for deployments in 500m to 1500m and for 20 min in 3500m.
Following Brenke (2005) that epi-and supra-nets are collecting the same fauna, these were pooled and treated as a single sample.Following Brenke ( 2005) that epi-and supra-nets are collecting the same fauna, these were pooled and treated as a single sample.
Quality control description: A species name was given to each specimen when it was possible. Individuals not corresponding to described species have been included in the analyses with the family or genus name and a letter or numerical code (e.g. Turbinidae sp.), however they represent a single morphospecies.
For these specimens, further morphological and genetic analyses are necessary to give them a species name but they can be included in this dataset as different species.
Finally, specimens too badly damaged for species identification have not been taken in account here.
This dataset presents species occurrences and species richness of the individual EBS deployments.

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive amundsen_sea_molluscs
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: http://ipt.biodiversity.aq/archive.do?r=amundsenseamolluscs_biopearl_ii
Publication date of data: 2013-01-09
Language: English

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2013-01-09
Hierarchy level: Dataset

References
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Dowdeswell JA, Evans J, Cofaigh, Anderson JB (2006), Morphology and sedimentary processes on the continental slope off Pine Island Bay, Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica. Geol Soc Am Bull 118: 606-619
Graham AGC, Larter RD, Gohl K, Dowdeswell JA, Hillenbrand C-D, Smith JA, Evans J, Kuhn G (2010) Flow and retreat of the Late Quaternary Pine Island-Thwaites palaeo-ice stream, West Antarctica, J Geophys Res 115.
Jacobs SS, Jenkins A, Giulivi CF, Dutrieux P (2011) Stronger ocean circulation and increased melting under Pine Island Glacier ice shelf. Nature Geosci 4:519–523.
Jenkins A, Hayes D, Brandon M, Pozzi-Walker Z, Hardy S, Banks C (2004) Oceanographic Observations at the Amundsen Sea Shelf Break. FRISP Report No 15
Larter RD, Graham AGC, Gohl K, Kuhn G, Hillenbrand C-D, Smith JA, Deen TJ, Livermore RA, Schenke H-W (2009) Subglacial bedforms reveal complex basal regime in a zone of paleo-ice stream convergence, Amundsen Sea Embayment, West Antarctica. Geology 37:411-414
Lowe AL, Anderson JB (2002) Reconstruction of the West Antarctic ice sheet in Pine Island Bay during the Last Glacial maximum and its subsequent retreat history. Quat Sci Revs 21:1879-1897
Nitsche FO, Jacobs SS, Larter RD, Gohl K (2007) Bathymetry of the Amundsen Sea continental shelf: Implications for, geology, oceanography and glaciology. Geochem Geophys Geosys 8: Q10009.
Noormets R, Dowdeswell JA, Larter RA, Cofaigh C Ó, Evans J (2009) Morphology of the upper continental slope in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas – implications for sedimentary processes at the shelf edge of West Antarctica. Mar Geol 258:100-114
Vaughan DG (2008) West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse – the fall and rise of a paradigm. Clim Change 91: 65-79
Linse K, Walker LJ , Barnes DKA (2008) Biodiversity of echinoids and their epibionts around the Scotia Arc, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 20, pp 227–244. doi: 10.1017/S0954102008001181