Abstract
The abundance and biomass of the deep-sea epibenthic megafauna were studied at three locations in the northeast Atlantic along 20°W longitude. Photographic transects were analyzed to estimate abundance. and catches of an epibenthic sledge and an ottertrawl provided information about taxonomy. individual biomass and size-weight relationships. The highest megafauna density was found at the northernmost site (59°N). where density was twice as high as at 47°N. and at least one order of magnitude higher than at 34°N. The biomass estimates show a similar trend. Pennatulids were the numerically most important group at 59°N and 47°N. In terms of biomass. holothurians predominated at 59°N. and actinarians at 47°N. At 34°N. only a few pennatulids were visible on the photographs. Compared with other regions of similar water depth. the density and biomass of the megafauna at 47°N and 59°N appear to be very high. The importance of the megafauna at 47°N is demonstrated by a high megafauna/macrofauna biomass ratio of about 2.
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Christiansen, B., Thiel, H. (1992). Deep-Sea Epibenthic Megafauna of the Northeast Atlantic: Abundance and Biomass at Three Mid-Oceanic Locations Estimated From Photographic Transects. In: Rowe, G.T., Pariente, V. (eds) Deep-Sea Food Chains and the Global Carbon Cycle. NATO ASI Series, vol 360. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2452-2_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2452-2_8
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