Strong correlations of sea ice cover with macroalgal cover along the Antarctic Peninsula: Ramifications for present and future benthic communities

Macroalgal forests dominate shallow hard bottom areas along the northern portion of Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). biomass and diversity are known to be dramatically lower in southern WAP at similar latitudes around Antarctica, but few reports detail distributions macroalgae or associated macroinvertebrates central WAP. We used satellite imagery identify 14 sites differing sea ice coverage terms turbidity Fleshy macroalgal cover was strongly, negatively correlated with concentration, there no significant correlation between macroinvertebrate ice. Overall community (all organisms) concentration positively fleshy cover, which ranged from zero high 80% lowest sites. Nonparametric, multivariate analyses resulted clustering assemblages across most study area, although they differed greatly respect percent diversity. Analyses overall communities three site clusters corresponding high, medium, low cover. At sites, depths, suggested increasing effects scour shallower depths towards south. Hindcast projections based on correlations data suggest that many could have been varying substantially over past 40 years. Similarly, predicted likely decreases by 2100, projected increases currently substantial, often only a future 15% decrease Such changes would important ramifications benthic understanding how may contribute blue carbon sequestration.