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Diversity and species distribution of polychaetes, isopods and bivalves in the Atlantic sector of the deep Southern Ocean

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Abstract

We examined deep-sea benthic data on polychaetes, isopods and bivalves from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Samples were taken during the expeditions EASIZ II (1998), ANDEEP I and II (2002) (depth: 742–6,348 m). The range between sites varies from 3 to 1,900 km. Polychaetes (175 species in total) and isopods (383 species) had a high proportion of species restricted to one or two sites (72 and 70%, respectively). Bivalves (46 species) had a higher proportion of species represented at more sites. Beta diversity (Whittaker and Jaccard) was higher for polychaetes and isopods than for bivalves. The impact of depth on species richness was not consistent among groups; polychaetes showed a negative relationship to depth, isopods displayed highest richness in the middle depth range (2,000–4,000 m), whereas bivalves showed no clear relationship to depth. Species richness was not related to latitude (58–74°S) or longitude (22–60°W) for any group.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for the ANDEEP I and II expeditions was provided by the German Science Foundation (Br 1121/20, 1-3; 436 RUS 17/91/03; 436 RUS 17/19/04; HI 351/3-1). KEE acknowledges the support of the Research Council of Norway. We are grateful to Prof. W. Arntz, Chief Scientist on ANT XV-3, to Prof. D. Fütterer, Chief Scientist on ANT XIX/3-4, and to the captains and crews of RV Polarstern for help on board. This is ANDEEP publication no. 53.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Polar Environmental Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway

    Kari E. Ellingsen

  2. Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Angelika Brandt

  3. DZMB-CeDAMar c/o Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum König, Adenauerallee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany

    Brigitte Ebbe

  4. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council, High Cross, Madlingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK

    Katrin Linse

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  1. Kari E. Ellingsen
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Correspondence to Kari E. Ellingsen.

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Ellingsen, K.E., Brandt, A., Ebbe, B. et al. Diversity and species distribution of polychaetes, isopods and bivalves in the Atlantic sector of the deep Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 30, 1265–1273 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0287-x

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