Temporal density variations of Metazoan meiofauna in Marian Cove, King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract

Temporal variations in the density of meiofauna community from a station in Marian cove, King George Island were described over a period of ten months, from January 22 to October 29 1996. Representatives of 14 small sized taxa of higher category were found. Nematodes were always dominant with the mean ratio of 90.12%, followed by harpacticoids (6.55%) and Kinorhynchs (1.54%). The mean densities per each sample ranged from 8232.5 Ind./10cm2 to 535.1 Ind./10cm2 and the overall mean was 2587.2 Ind./10cm2. The overall densities increased from January to May and from August to October during study periods with several peaks. The density of meiofauna was significantly influenced by the wind speed in a day before the sampling date.