Pelagic-benthic coupling on the shelf of the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. 2. Benthic community structure
Grebmeier, J.M.; Feder, H.M.; McRoy, C.P. (1989). Pelagic-benthic coupling on the shelf of the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. 2. Benthic community structure. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 51(3): 253-268
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more
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| Keywords |
Availability > Food availability Composition > Community composition Dimensions > Size > Grain size Environmental effects Environmental effects > Temperature effects Organic matter > Carbon > Organic carbon > Dissolved organic matter > Dissolved organic carbon Population characteristics > Biomass Properties > Sediment properties > Sediment structure Species diversity Amphipoda [WoRMS]; Bivalvia [WoRMS]; Echinoidea [WoRMS]; Polychaeta [WoRMS] Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Grebmeier, J.M.
- Feder, H.M.
- McRoy, C.P.
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| Abstract |
Benthic communities under the cold, highly productive Bering Shelf-Anadyr Water (BSAW) are dominated by a high biomass of amphipods, Ampeliscidae and Isaeidae, and bivalves Nuculidae and Tellinidae. A diverse, low biomass fauna exists in benthic communities under the warmer, less productive Alaska Coastal Water (ACW), including amphipods, Isaeidae and Ampeliscidae, bivalves Tellinidae and Thyasiridae, polychaetes, Maldanidae and Nephtyidae, and sand dollars, Echinarachniidae. Faunal diversities are lowest for stations under BSAW, characterized by high food supply and moderately homogeneous, sandy sediments. Highest diversities occur at stations in ACW, which is characterized by low food supply and a more heterogeneous mixture of silt and clay, sand and gravel sediments. Faunal diversity also increased to the north in the Chukchi Sea, where food availability in the bottom water and surface sediments was greater and more heterogeneous, finer-grain sediments occur. |
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