Meiofauna and Nematode Community Composition in Maxwell Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract

The Antarctic Ocean hosts several species adapted to polar environments. However, the Antarctic marine environment is rapidly changing. We studied the meiofauna and nematode communities in Maxwell Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The meiofaunal densities ranged from 174.3 +/- 6.2 to 377.9 +/- 7.0 individuals/10 cm(2). The nematodes and harpacticoids accounted for 89.7% of the total meiofaunal density. A total of 1448 nematode individuals across 34 genera were recorded. The dominant nematode genus was Molgolaimus. This study offers guidance for future studies on polar benthic organisms and a reference to evaluate anthropogenic effects on polar ecosystems.