Overview
- An ROV deployed from the SA Agulhas II in 2019 documented more than 1,000 circular nests on a Weddell Sea seafloor newly accessible after the 2017 A68 iceberg calving from the Larsen C Ice Shelf.
- The structures were made by yellowfin notie (Lindbergichthys nudifrons) and appeared in distinct patterns including clusters, crescents, U-shapes, lines, ovals, and occasional solitary nests.
- Each nest had been cleared of plankton detritus and held eggs guarded by a parent, indicating maintained breeding sites with clear parental care.
- Study authors interpret the spatial organization as a “selfish herd” dynamic, with smaller fish favoring central clusters and larger individuals occupying exposed edge nests.
- Researchers say the findings, building on 2022 reports of massive breeding colonies, meet criteria for a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem and support proposals for a Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area.