Phytal Macrofauna Composition of the Himantothallus Grandifolius (Heterokonphyta, Desmarestiaceae) from Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica)

Abstract

Phytal ecosystems are characterized as an important area of production and energy transference, due to the complex trophic web that naturally establishes between diverse organism groups that co-inhabit this eutrophic region. Benthic organisms, especially of the macroand meiobenthic, constitute the associated fauna of the phytal kelps. Himantothallus grandifolius is the most prominent Antarctic kelp species. It is usually found in the Antarctic Peninsula Islands of the Maritime Antarctic region, despite the ecological importance of associated fauna. e present work has the objective to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the macrofauna phytal of the H. grandifolius collected in February 2011 at Mackelar inlet (Admiralty Bay), with special focus on taxonomic determination of the associated Isopods fauna. Preliminary results showed that the dominant faunal group was Amphipods (n = 1776), followed by Ectoprocta (n = 496). Isopods occurred in fewer density (n = 207 ind.) and so far have been identi ed at the following family level (Gnathiidae, Munnidae, Plakarthidae, Jaeropsidae , Sphaeromathidae and Janiridae).