Recent Ostracod Fauna of the Western Ross Sea (Antarctica): A Poorly Known Ingredient of Polar Carbonate Factories

Ostracoda are a minor but recurrent component of Southern Ocean marine carbonate factories, and their low-Mg calcitic skeletal mineralogy helps in ensuring noteworthy post-mortem resilience. Our study, based upon surface sediment occurrences, contributes to the better definition distribution vs. potential controlling factors Antarctic waters. The ostracod fauna from Western Ross Sea Shelf appears dominated by Australicythere polylyca, devexa, Xestoleberis rigusa, Loxoreticulatum fallax, Cativella bensoni, Austrotrachyleberis antarctica Patagonacythere longiducta, colonizing variety shelf environments along wide bathymetric range. abundance richness values correlate well nutrient supply, primarily related circulation different oceanographic regimes affecting floor Shelf. Circumpolar Deep Water could represent main factor ostracods. Similar results (high values) were also recorded Terra Nova Bay nearby area characterized warm water rich nutrients composed circumpolar origin flowing open ocean southwards onto continental shelf. Particulate Fe (pFe), suspended particulate matter (SPM), other trace metals TNB support hypothesis that biogenic iron may significantly contribute bioavailable pool, sustaining both primary production this area.