The first report on Amphipoda from Marian Cove, King George Island, Antarctic

This is a first account on amphipods from Marian Cove in Maxwell Bay, near the King Sejong Station, King George Island, the Antarctic. We have conducted a survey in 14 localities in the shallow sublittoral zone. A total of 22 amphipod species belonging to 12 families were identified. Six of these species were new for the whole Maxwell Bay. Our findings increase the amphipod fauna of Maxwell Bay from 55 to 61 species. The dominant species in the shallow sublittoral zone of Marian Cove were: Cheirimedon femoratus and Gondogeneia antarctica, followed by Bovallia gigantea, Orchomenella cf. ultima, Paradexamine fissicauda, Prostebbingia brevicornis, Pariphimedia integricauda, and Jassa wandeli.

New data on the occurrence of Acanthocephala in Antarctic Amphipoda

In total, 6401 amphipods, including 5707 Cheirimedon femoratus, caught at the Galindez Island (Argentine Islands, Western Antarctica) were examined for the presence of cystacanths and advanced acanthellae of Acanthocephala. Two parasite species, Corynosoma pseudohamanni Zdzitowiecki, 1984 and Metacanthocephalus johnstoni Zdzitowiecki, 1983, were found in the haemocoeloma of C. femoratus. Total prevalence was 1.19%, that of C. pseudohamanni 0.68% and of M. johnstoni 0.51%. Additionally, 8 of 1416 C. femoratus caught in the Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands) were found to be infected with C. pseudohamanni and free of M. johnstoni. The representative of the genus Metacanthocephalus was found in the intermediate host for the first time. C. pseudohamanni was more abundant at the Galindez Island (prevalence 0.68%) than in the Admiralty Bay (prevalence 0.42% in previous investigations and 0.56% in present ones). Amphipods harboured usually one or rarely two acanthocephalans of one species. Both parasites were more abundant in amphipods caught in the polluted water closely to the Vernadsky Station than in the Mick Channel, farther from the station (prevalence 0.77% vs. 0.51% for C. pseudohamanni and 0.64% vs. 0.26% for M. johnstoni).

Necrophagous lysianassoid Amphipoda in the diet of Antarctic tern at King George Island, Antarctica

Amphipod crustaceans constituted 30% of the food biomass from the stomachs of Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) captured at King George Island in three consecutive seasons. Five species of lysianassoid amphipods occurred in the material: Abyssorchomene plebs, Cheirimedon femoratus, Hippomedon kergueleni, Waldeckia obesa and Orchomenella rotundifrons. All these amphipods are known as necrophages inhabiting the upper and middle sublittoral of western Antarctic. They are commonly caught in masses in baited traps, but never occur in the littoral zone or in tidal pools. It is suggested that the source of the amphipod diet of S. vittata are seal or penguin carcasses and dead fish brought by waves to the tidal zone, serving as a bait for necrophagous amphipod crustaceans when submerged in water before stranding on the beach.