CHALLENGE-2: Benthic Biodiversity Squares

In order to describe and compare the benthic biodiversity of shallow waters along the Antarctic Peninsula, organisms from vertical walls located between 15 and 25 meters deep were collected from 6 stations that were selected considering, on the one hand, a latitudinal gradient , and on the other, the human impact in these areas represented as water pollution, the presence of cruise ships or the proximity to scientific bases and stations. At each station and by diving, vertical walls were searched where 3 squares of 25 x 25 centimeters were placed, separated from each other by about 5 meters of distance. Using a painter's scraper, the fraction of sessile organisms was separated from the rock and stored in separate zip bags for each square. Once in the laboratory, each sample was independently filtered through a 0.64 μm sieve. The samples were then frozen and stored at -20ºC for subsequent treatment using molecular analysis techniques.