Source, density and composition of sympagic fauna in the Barents Sea |
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Authors: | OLE J LØNNE BJØRN GULLlKSEN |
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Institution: | Department of Marine Biology, TromsØMuseum, University of Tromsø, N-9000 Tromsø, Norway. |
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Abstract: | The sympagic fauna (= ice fauna) of the Barents Sea was investigated on nine different cruises in 1982-1988. Each cruise lasted from two to five weeks. Sampling techniques were based on scuba diving. The abundant sympagic organisms were the polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ) and the three amphipods Apherusa glacialis, Onisimus sp. and Gammarus wilkitzkii . Mean biomass-values (wet weight) of the invertebrate sympagic fauna ranged from 0 to 2 g/m2. Values above 0.001 g/m2 were not recorded in five of the nine cruises. This is orders of magnitude lower than mean values recorded in multi-year ice north of Svalbard and in the Fram Strait where values between 1-10g/m2 are quite common. Apherusa glacialis seemed to have the best spreading capacity of the three most conspicuous amphipods. Gammarus wilkitzkii was most dependent on a passive transport with the ice. Sympagic amphipods play an important part in a food chain from microalgae to polar cod and marine birds in areas covered with ice, especially in areas with multi-year ice. |
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