MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.972.919 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 309:297-300 (2006)

Seal-mounted cameras detect invertebrate fauna on underside of Antarctic ice shelf

ABSTRACT: While modern sampling techniques, such as autonomous underwater vehicles, are increasing our knowledge of the fauna beneath Antarctic sea ice of only a few meters in depth, greater sampling difficulties mean that little is known about the marine life underneath Antarctic ice shelves over 100 m thick. In this study, we present underwater images showing the underside of an Antarctic ice shelf covered by aggregated invertebrate communities, most likely cnidarians and isopods. These images, taken at an average depth of 145 m, were obtained with a digital still camera system attached to Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii foraging just beneath the ice shelf. Our observations indicate that, similar to the sea floor, ice shelves serve as an important habitat for a remarkable amount of marine invertebrate fauna in Antarctica.

KEYWORDS

Yuuki Watanabe (Corresponding Author)

  • Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minamidai, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8639, Japan
yuuki@ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Horst Bornemann (Co-author)

  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, 27515 Bremerhaven, Germany

Nikolai Liebsch (Co-author)

  • Institut für Meereskunde, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany

Joachim Plötz (Co-author)

  • Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 120161, 27515 Bremerhaven, Germany

Katsufumi Sato (Co-author)

  • National Institute of Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8515, Japan

Yasuhiko Naito (Co-author)

  • National Institute of Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8515, Japan

Nobuyuki Miyazaki (Co-author)

  • Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minamidai, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8639, Japan