BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

BENTART-95 Cruise (29HE19950112) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 1995, Study benthic fauna and flora of Livingston Island & Study of bioactive substances of algae and Antarctic marine invertebrates (BENTART). Objectives 1) Preparation of the catalog of the species of macrobenthos, meiobenthos and demersal fish of the hard and mobile bottoms of the south zone of Livingston Island, by means of the taxonomic determination of all the species. 2) Expansion of knowledge about the geographic, bathymetric and horizonatal distribution of the various species studied and the subsequent geographical analysis. 3) Study of the most important environmental parameters (physico-chemical) in the water column (depth, temperature, salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll, speed and direction of the currents) and sediment (granulometry, content in, organic matter and carbonates ), which may affect the distribution and abundance of Antarctic benthic communities. 4) Characterization of the benthonic populations, with estimates of abundance, biomass and biovolumes of the main taxonomic groups, from the data obtained in the sampling stations and the treatment of the video and underwater photography images. 5) Typification of the communities, structural analysis of the same and bionomic cartography. 6) Study of fish-benthic trophic relationships, by analyzing the stomach contents of the former, with special attention to the role of suprabenths. The last objective will be the development of a trophic scheme that allows us to ascertain the transfer of energy transferred from the invertebrate benthos to the fish. 7) Phylogenetic and ecophysiological studies in macroalgae. 8) Genetic studies of benthic animals to know the genetic variability of different populations, their comparison with other species and possible resolution of taxonomic problems. 9) Evaluation of the survival of marine invertebrates captured by trawling or dredging methods and estimation of the impact caused by such gear on Antarctic bottoms. 10) Study of bioactive substances of algae and marine invertebrates. 11) Study of chemical pollution (heavy metals, pesticides) in sediments and Antarctic marine organisms (fish, sponge, etc ...) 12) Assembling of documentaries and audiovisuals, both scientific and informative, based on photographic material and filming Submarine and superficial video. 13) Expansion of the collections of Antarctic benthic invertebrates, initiated at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Madrid. 14) Enlargement of the photographic archive on presently existing Antarctic benthos