Comparing the structure and function of the Antarctic and tropic benthic communities following environmental changes

Abstract

A comparative study was carried out to determine the impacts of environmental changes on the structure and function of benthic communities in polar and tropical regions. This study compared a new work in Tropical region with a previous study in Marian Cove, West Antarctic Peninsula. Samplings in Tropica region were done to determine the impacts of monsoon season on the benthic diversity in Bidong Island, Malaysia. Hand core (with the aid of SCUBA diving) was used to collect sediment samples containing benthic organisms at 3 stations during pre- and post-monsoon. Study found that both species number and functional diversity were low at stations with high environmental impacts, i.e. during postmonsoon season. However, the taxonomic diversity of the community was not different between seasons. These were found out to be in similar trend with the study in Polar region. The present study showed that the environmental variability had an effect on benthic communities both structurally and functionally. Although widely spatially separated, the responses of different benthic communities towards environmental changes were similar.