Macrobenthos of the continental slope north of Svalbard from the Nansen Legacy joint cruise JC3 in Feb/Mar 2023.

Study Extent

Continental slope to the Nansen Basin north of Svalbard

Sampling

Sediment samples for analysis of macrofaunal diversity, abundance and biomass were taken from multiple 11.7 cm diameter cores inserted in 50x50 cm box cores. These cores were first used for sediment community oxygen respiration and then gently sieved completely through 250 µm for macrofaunal community estimates with cold seawater. The remaining biota was then preserved in a 4% buffered formaldehyde-seawater solution that was rose Bengal-stained. This work is part of RF3 of the Nansen Legacy project, cruise JC3, Feb/Mar 2022. Protocol version 10 was used (10.3.9, but smaller sieve size and different contact person).

Method steps

1. In the home lab, samples were sorted to major taxa first under a stereomicroscope (partly at UiT, partly at IOPAN). Subsequently macrofauna taxa were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, enumerated and the weight taken. Meiofauna in the samples was identified to phylum level only. Fragments were not enumerated but weighed. Taxonomic identification my be improved for some individuals in the future.

N/A

1. Mollusca
   rank: phylum
2. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
3. Golfingiidae
   rank: family
4. Hydrozoa
   rank: class
5. Pectinida
   rank: order
6. Bivalvia
   rank: class
7. Cumacea
   rank: order
8. Amphipoda
   rank: order
9. Acrocirridae
   rank: family
10. Nuculanida
    rank: order
11. Maldanidae
    rank: family
12. Ostracoda
    rank: class
13. Capitellidae
    rank: family
14. Phyllodocidae
    rank: family
15. Ampeliscidae
    rank: family
16. Nuculanidae
    rank: family
17. Arcidae
    rank: family
18. Copepoda
    rank: class
19. Hesionidae
    rank: family
20. Porifera
    rank: phylum
21. Propeamussiidae
    rank: family
22. Lumbrineridae
    rank: family
23. Spionida
    rank: order
24. Sphaerodoridae
    rank: family
25. Syllidae
    rank: family
26. Terebellidae
    rank: family
27. Animalia
    rank: kingdom
28. Spionidae
    rank: family
29. Yoldiidae
    rank: family
30. Ampharetidae
    rank: family
31. Phyllodocida
    rank: order
32. Leuconidae
    rank: family
33. Priapulida
    rank: phylum
34. Terebellida
    rank: order
35. Sabellida
    rank: order
36. Cirratulidae
    rank: family
37. Sabellidae
    rank: family
38. Annelida
    rank: phylum
39. Polychaeta
    rank: class
40. Sipuncula
    rank: order
41. Paraonidae
    rank: family
42. Malacostraca
    rank: class
43. Nematoda
    rank: phylum
44. Eunicida
    rank: order
45. Lucinida
    rank: order
46. Arcida
    rank: order
47. Cnidaria
    rank: phylum
48. Thyasiridae
    rank: family

The data set contains information on occurrence, counts and weights (per 11.7 diameter core) of benthic macrofauna at one location at 500 m and one location at 1500 m on the continental slope north of Svalbard, sampled in Feb/Mar 2023.