Relationship between Modern Deep-Sea Ostracods and Water Mass Structure in East Antarctica

Abstract. This study investigated the relationship between the distribution of modern ostracod biofacies and environmental factors in Lützow–Holm Bay, off Cape Darnley, and off Totten Glacier in East Antarctica. We collected study samples from water depths of 219 to 987 m by the 61st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Nineteen species belonging to 13 genera and 47 species belonging to 31 genera of ostracods were found in three samples from Lützow–Holm Bay and ten samples from off Totten Glacier, respectively. We found no ostracods in the samples off Cape Darnley. Q-mode cluster analysis reveals four ostracod biofacies (A to D). Antarctiloxoconcha frigida (Neale, 1967) and Australicythere polylyca (Müller, 1908) were common under the influence of cold water in the upper bathyal zone (biofacies A to C). The genus Krithe was the most abundant taxon in biofacies D with low dissolved oxygen and high-water temperature (0.38°C, 34.66, and 5.0 ml/L, respectively), indicating the presence of warm deep seawater, i.e., modified Circumpolar Deep Water. Thus, we have checked the relationships between the ostracod assemblages and the environmental parameters analyzed in Lützow–Holm Bay and off Totten Glacier, and so strengthened the previous ostracod and environmental data.