Biodiversity in the Southern Ocean

From the shelf to the deep sea

Abstract

The abyssal deep sea of Antarctica has been studied with a series of ANDEEP expeditions since 2002. The fauna of the Antarctic deep sea is very diverse. Many unknown species have been discovered, distribution ranges adapted and systematic relationships redefined. Deep-sea species also occur on the Antarctic shelf because it is deeper than that of other continents. Conditions under ice shelves are similar to those in the deep sea, which is why typical deep-sea communities and species also occur in these regions.