Ecosystem engineers such as the Antarctic scallop (Adamussium colbecki) shape marine communities. Thus, changes to their lifespan and growth could have far-reaching effects on other organisms. Sea ice is critical to polar marine ecosystem function, attenuating light and thereby affecting nutrient availability. Sea ice could therefore impact longevity and growth in polar bivalves unless temperature is the overriding factor. Here, we compare the longevity and growth of A. colbecki from two Antarctic sites: Explorers Cove and Bay of Sails, which differ by sea-ice cover, but share similar seawater temperatures, the coldest on Earth (-1.97°C). We hypothesize that scallops from the multiannual sea-ice site will have slower growth and greater longevity. We found maximum ages to be similar at both sites (18–19 years). Growth was slower, with higher inter-individual variability, under multiannual sea ice than under annual sea ice, which we attribute to patchier nutrient availability under multiannual sea ice. Contrary to expectations, A. colbecki growth, but not longevity, is affected by sea-ice duration when temperatures are comparable. Recent dramatic reductions in Antarctic sea ice and predicted temperature increases may irrevocably alter the life histories of this ecosystem engineer and other polar organisms.

中文翻译：

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南极扇贝 Adamussium colbecki 在年度和多年海冰下的生长和寿命

南极扇贝等生态系统工程师（蠹虫) 塑造海洋社区。因此，改变它们的寿命和生长可能会对其他生物产生深远的影响。海冰对极地海洋生态系统功能至关重要，会减弱光线，从而影响养分的有效性。因此，海冰可能会影响极地双壳贝类的寿命和生长，除非温度是最重要的因素。在这里，我们比较的寿命和增长A.colbecki来自两个南极点：探险者湾和帆湾，它们的海冰覆盖率不同，但海水温度相似，是地球上最冷的（-1.97°C）。我们假设来自多年生海冰地点的扇贝生长速度较慢，寿命更长。我们发现两个地点的最大年龄相似（18-19 岁）。与年海冰相比，多年海冰下的增长较慢，个体间变异性更高，我们将其归因于多年海冰下的养分可用性更差。与预期相反，A.colbecki在温度相当的情况下，海冰持续时间会影响生长，但不会影响寿命。最近南极海冰的急剧减少和预计的温度升高可能会不可逆转地改变这个生态系统工程师和其他极地生物的生活史。