Habitat choice and predator avoidance by Antarctic amphipods: the roles of algal chemistry and morphology

I studied top-down effects on community structure (habitat choice and behavior of amphipods, the dominant mesograzers) in macroalgal communities in the vicinity of Palmer Station, Antarctica, where amphipods are not only extremely abundant, but their distributions are very different on palatable vs. unpalatable macroalgae. Pilot studies have suggested that these differences in community structure may be driven by algal chemistry and predation.

The effects of algal chemistry on amphipod habitat choice, both in the presence and absence of predators will be tested experimentally, as will the question of whether amphipod host-alga choice results in any reduction of predation risk. Mesograzers in general, and amphipods in particular, are an essential trophic link in marine systems worldwide, and in particular, are a critical component of antarctic near-shore ecosystems.