Necrophagous invertebrates of the Admiralty Bay of King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica)
Streszczenie
In 1977 and 1980 rich materials of necrophagous invertebrates were
collected in the Admiralty Bay of King George Island. The collecting was carried out
in 9 stations differing with respect to their habitat conditions. The stations were
established at depths ranging from 5 to 90 m. In baited traps placed in the stations
295074 specimens of various animals belonging to almost 100 taxa were caught. It was
found that 23 species out of the above mentioned taxa were necrophagous, and 10 further
species were suspected of necrophagy. On the basis of their specific composition and
domination structure the summer and winter assemblages of necrophagous invertebrates
were described and compared with each other. An analysis of spatial and seasonal
changes in the structure and abundance of these assemblages was carried out. and the
habitat preferences of particular species as well as a list of species displaying permanent
or seasonal necrophagy were determinted. Three forms of the competitive community
of necrophagous invertebrates were distinguished.
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