Abstract
Marian Cove, a proglacial Antarctic fjord, has been strongly affected by glacier retreat, generating a pronounced environmental gradient that shapes the structure and composition of benthic communities. Given its ecological relevance, this review aims to compile and synthesize existing information on the ecology, biodiversity, and functional dynamics of these communities, identifying patterns of ecological succession, trophic coupling, and resilience in response to glacier retreat. A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and Web of Science, covering the past three decades and applying inclusion criteria restricted to peer-reviewed studies focused on the ecological or trophic aspects of Antarctic macrobenthos. The reviewed studies reveal that high sedimentation rates and turbidity near the glacier favor low-diversity pioneer communities, while outer sectors host more diverse and functionally complex assemblages. Local benthic production and functional redundancy emerge as primary mechanisms of ecological resilience under increasing disturbance, with functionally redundant species adapted to the environmental gradient and key taxa maintaining energy fluxes and local biodiversity. Comparisons between Marian Cove and other Antarctic fjords, such as Potter Cove, highlight convergent ecological mechanisms operating under different levels of glacial disturbance, where local benthic production and redundancy sustain ecosystem resilience. This review synthesizes three decades of research in a representative Antarctic fjord and underscores the need for long-term monitoring, standardized methodologies, and international collaboration to anticipate critical thresholds of ecological stability in proglacial ecosystems facing accelerated climate change.
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