Beaching of the tunicate Salpa thompsoni at high levels of suspended particulate matter in the Southern Ocean

A mass death event of the pelagic tunicate Salpa thompsoni, which occurred in April 2002 in Potter Cove near the Argentinean/German Antarctic station Jubany (62degrees14'S-58degrees40'W), King George Island, South Shetland Islands, is described. Salps appeared on the beach 2 days after very strong ( > 80 km.h(-1)) winds were registered, which accumulated particulate material in the inner part of the cove and probably also re-suspended bottom sediments. The sharp increase in particulate-matter concentrations in Potter Cove caused clogging of salp mucous filtering nets, and probably a combination of clogging, winds and tides caused dying salps to be washed out onto the beach.