On the vertical distribution of metazoan meiofauna in shelf break and upper slope habitats of the NE Atlantic
Vanreusel, A.; Vincx, M.; Schram, D.; Van Gansbeke, D. (1995). On the vertical distribution of metazoan meiofauna in shelf break and upper slope habitats of the NE Atlantic. Int. Rev. gesamten Hydrobiol. 80(2): 313-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19950800218 In: Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie. Wiley-VCH: Berlin. ISSN 0020-9309, more |  |
| Keywords | Meiofauna
Profiles > Vertical profiles
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | |
| Abstract | The metazoan meiofauna of nine stations in shelf break and upper slope areas (70 to 1500 m water depth) of the N.E. Atlantic were investigated in order to assess which environmental factors are important in the control of densities and sediment profiles. Total meiofaunal densities (ranging between 368 and 1523 ind/10 cm2 were correlated with bacterial densities, an important food source for meiofauna. However, considering sediment vertical distribution profiles, the relative importance of both food and oxygen on the meiofauna became obvious. A combination of both bacterial densities and oxygen supply could explain about 95% of the variability in the vertical profiles of the meiofauna densities. Meiofauna numbers increase in proportion to food availability in the surface sediment layers, but this relationship breaks down in deeper sediment layers where the oxygen supply is often limiting, particularly in fine sediments. |
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