Abstract
The microphytobenthic standing crop in marine coastal sediments from Kerguelen main island (from surface to 8 cm deep) varied in relation to the tidal position, grain size, and shelter of sediments. A time-series analysis was performed at three distinct sites: a sheltered fjord (PRAY), a moderately exposed embayment (PAF) and a deep fjord with higher open-ocean influence (PN). Temporal variations on all studied parameters were observed on intertidal, as well as on subtidal sediments, but with a great range in variations and pattern. Compared to phytoplankton blooms at the same location and stations, the microphytobenthos productive periods were not so marked, especially on intertidal sediments. Nevertheless, high productivity periods were in most cases linked to austral spring and summer (up to 30–50 μg Chl a g−1 dw, in intertidal sheltered sands; >170 μg Chl a g−1 dw, in sheltered subtidal muds). On subtidal muddy sites, the high phaeopigments concentrations (up to 195 μg Phaeo a g−1 dw at PRAY site) were attributed to kelp and epiphyte degradation and sedimentation, and also to macrofauna trophic influence, whereas at Portes-Noires fjord (PN) a Phaeophytine a late spring increase in 1991 was suspected to be of plankton origin. The PN site exhibited a lower productivity than at the other two sites, regardless of the tidal position of the sediment, due to a delayed annual cycle in surficial temperature and standing crop. Compared to the phytoplankton blooms, the microphytobenthos productivity at Kerguelen main island was less restricted in time and may occur throughout the year, not just to the benefit of the benthos food-chain, but also to the pelagic one via resuspension, as well as to filter feeders (i.e. mussels).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azibane C, Clavier B, Dujardin J-L, Le Touzé V, Rigourd J-F (1977) Etude sur le climat des Îles Kerguelen et de la zone subantarctique de l’Océan Indien. Climatologie de Port-Aux-Français. Monogr Météo Nat Paris 99:1–135
Berkman PA, Marks DM, Shreve GP (1986) Winter sediment resuspension in McMurdo sound, Antarctica, and its ecological implications. Polar Biol 6:1–3
Brotas V, Plante-Cuny M-R (1996) Identification et quantification des pigments chlorophylliens et caroténoïdes des sédiments marins. Choix d’un protocole d’analyse par HPLC. Oceanol Acta 19:623–633
Brotas V, Plante-Cuny M-R (1998) Spatial and temporal patterns of microphytobenthic taxa of estuarine tidal flats in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal) using pigment analysis by HPLC. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 171:43–47
Bouvy M (1988) Contribution of the bacterial and microphytobenthic microflora in the energetic demand of the meiobenthos in an intertidal muddy sediment (Kerguelen Archipelago). PSZNI Mar Ecol 9:109–122
Delille D, Guidi LD, Soyer J (1985) Nutrition of Allotanais hirsutus (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) at Kerguelen Island. In: Siegfried WR, Condy PR, Laws RM (eds) Antarctic nutrient cycles and food webs. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 378–380
Dayton PK, Watson D, Palmisano A, Barry JP, Oliver JS, Rivera D (1986) Distribution patterns of benthic microalgal standing stock. Polar Biol 6:207–213
Fiala M, Kopczynska EE, Jeandel C, Oriol L, Vétion G (1998) Seasonal and interannual variability of size-frationated phytoplankton biomass and community structure at station Kerfix, off the Kerguelen Islands, Antarctica. J Plankt Res 20:1341–1356
Gilbert NS (1991a) Microphytobenthic seasonality in near-shore marine sediments at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci 33:89–104
Gilbert NS (1991b) Primary production by benthic microalgae in nearshore marine sediments of Signy Island, Antarctica. Polar Biol 11:339–346
Hédoin H, Couté A (1992) Etude préliminaire du nanoplancton marin de l’Archipel des Kerguelen (T.A.A.F.). Cryptogamie Algol 13:121–142
Holm-Hansen O, Lorenzen CJ, Holmes RW, Strickland JDH (1965) Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J Cons Perm Int Explor Mer 30:3–15
Klein B, Riaux-Gobin C (1991) Algal pigment diversity of sediments from Kerguelen (Sub-Antarctic Islands) reflecting local dominance of green algae, euglenoids and diatoms. Polar Biol 11:439–448
Krebs WN (1983) Ecology of neritic marine diatoms, Arthur Harbor, Antarctica. Micropaleontology 29 (3):267–297
Lorenzen CJ (1966) A method for the continuous measurement of in vivo chlorophyll concentration. Deep Sea Res 13:223–227
Lorenzen CJ, Jeffrey SW (1980) Determination of chlorophyll in seawater: report of intercalibration tests. UNESCO Tech Pap Mar Sci 35:20
Mantoura RFC, Llewellyn CA (1983) The rapid determination of algal chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and their breakdown products in natural waters by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Anal Chim Acta 151:297–314
O’Meara E (1875) On the Diatomaceous gatherings made at Kerguelen’s Land, by J.N. Moseley, H.M.S. Challenger. J Linn Soc Lond Bot 15:55
Palmisano AC, Soohoo JB, White DC, Smith GA, Stanton G, Burckle LH (1985) Shade adapted benthic diatoms beneath Antarctic sea-ice. J Phycol 21:664–667
Park Y-H, Gamberoni L, Charriaud E (1993) Frontal structure, water masses, and circulation in the Crozet Basin. Geophys Res 98:361–385
Pichon J-J, Labracherie M, Labeyrie LD, Duprat J (1987) Transfer functions between diatom assemblages and surface hydrology in the Southern Ocean. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 61:79–95
Pichon J-J, Labeyrie LD, Bareille G, Labracherie M, Duprat J, Jouzel J (1992) Surface water temperature changes in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere over the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Paleoceanography 7:289–318
Redden AM, Thompson RJ, Deibel D (1993) Effects of short- and long-term freezing of chloropigments in cultures diatoms and bivalve digestive gland and faeces as determined by standard fluorometry and HPLC. Arch Hydrobiol 129:67–87
Platt HM (1979) Ecology of King Edward Cove, South Georgia: macro-benthos and the benthic environment. Br Antarct Surv Bull 49:231–238
Riaux-Gobin C, Bourgoin P (2002) Microphytobenthos biomass at Kerguelen’s Land (Subantarctic Indian Ocean): repartition and variability during austral summers. J Mar Syst 32:295–306
Riaux-Gobin C, Romero O (2003) Marine Cocconeis Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyceae) species and related taxa from Kerguelen’s Land (Austral Ocean, Indian sector). Bibl Diatomol 47:189
Riaux-Gobin C, Llewellyn CA, Klein B (1987) Microphytobenthos from two subtidal sediments from North Brittany. II. Variations of pigment composition and concentration determined by HPLC and conventional techniques. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 40:275–283
Riaux-Gobin C, Tréguer P, Douvillé J-L, Le Roux C (1998) Microphytobenthos de deux sédiments subtidaux de Nord-Bretagne. I: biomasses pigmentaires, fluctuations saisonnières et gradients verticaux. Ann Inst Oceangr 74:29–41
Riaux-Gobin C, Klein B, Duchêne J-C (2000) A pigment analysis of feeding modes of Thelepus extensus (Polychaeta, Terebellidae) in relation to wave exposure at the Ïles Kerguelen. Antarctic Sci 12:52–63
Rivkin RB, Putt M (1987) Photosynthesis and cell division by Antarctic microalgae: comparison of benthic, planktonic and ice algae. J Phycol 23:223–229
Southwood TRE (1966) Ecological methods with particular reference to the study of insect populations. Chapman and Hall, London
White MG (1984) Marine benthos. In: Laws RW (ed) Antarctic ecology, vol 2. Academic Press, London, pp 421–461
Whitehead JM, McMinn A (2002) Kerguelen Plateau Quaternary-late Pliocene palaeoenvironments: from diatom, silicoflagellate and sedimentological data. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 186:335–368
Acknowledgments
We, particularly P.B., thank all the over-wintering KER 41 team members for their field assistance and fellowship during the MICROPHYTO 91 research program, Captains Denis Rochard, Gérard Marellec and Paul Masson and the crews of the R/V “La Curieuse” and “L’Aventure”. We especially thank Elie Poulin and Damien Levallois for their diving assistance. Many thanks also to the meteorological team at Kerguelen Station (Météo France) for their collaboration, and to Dr Richard W. Jordan for his comments and English revision. Funds, and logistic assistance in the field, were supported by the “Institut Polaire Français, Paul-Émile Victor” (IPEV) formerly the “Institut Français pour la Recherche et la Téchnologie Polaires” (IFRTP).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Riaux-Gobin*, C., Bourgoin, P. Microphytic standing stocks at Kerguelen Islands (Subantarctic, Indian Ocean), annual variations in relation to environmental factors: II, intertidal and subtidal microphytobenthos. Polar Biol 27, 735–747 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0658-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0658-5