Abundance and diversity of gastropods associated with dominant subtidal macroalgae from the western Antarctic Peninsula

Gastropod assemblages associated with eight common macroalgae from the hard-bottom subtidal communities near Palmer Station, western Antarctic Peninsula, were investigated in order to establish a species inventory and determine abundance, distribution, and diversity. Four different sites within the area were sampled. Using SCUBA, selected algae were gently removed from the substrate and enclosed in a fine mesh bag. Shortly thereafter, all epibionts were removed and preserved. Twenty-one different gastropod taxa were identified, two of which not to species level. A total of 3486 individuals were quantified with Skenella umbilicata the numerically dominant, followed by Laevilacunaria antarctica and Eatoniella calignosa . Most individuals (86 %) were