IMPACT OF ICEBERG SCOURING ON POLAR BENTHIC HABITATS

In situ photographs and videos demonstrate that iceberg grounding in b oth polar regions causes considerable damage to benthic communities. S essile organisms are eradicated and pioneer species begin to grow in h igh abundances on the devastated substratum. A preliminary quantitativ e analysis shows that the sea floor in the Antarctic and Arctic areas of investigation is disturbed by icebergs statistically once every 230 and 53 yr, respectively. Due to the extreme slow growth of many speci es, particularly in Antarctica, areas frequently disturbed in this man ner are likely to be characterised by a continuous natural fluctuation between destruction and recovery. Increased perturbation by iceberg g roundings through predicted global warming will result in considerable impairment of this environment.