Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

sampling in the vicinity of a stone during dive 227 (T. Soltwedel, AWI) to analyse
biogenic sediment compounds.
The demersal fish fauna comprises predominantly Lycodes sp. The frequent occurrence
of the Arctic eelpout Lycodes frigidus had been already reported in 1999, but the genus
is probably represented by more than one species. Other common elements are
anthozoans, gastropods, and large-growing isopods (Saduria sp.). Amphipods were
regularly observed by ROV cameras, but are more effectively studied by baited traps
(compare C. 13, De Broyer & Martin). The subsurface-feeding irregular echinoid
Pourtalesia jeffreysi was found in box cores of St. 428, 478, 452 in a water depth of
approx. 2400 m. An elasipodid holothurian (Irpa abyssicola?) was observed during dives
at the central station and present in box cores at St. 462 and 463 in a water depth of
2600 m (compare C. 9, Budaeva). Multicorer and box core samples in the Molloy Hole
confirmed the dominant role of the smaller elasipodid species Elpidia glacialis for the
epifaunal community in a water depth of > 5000 m (St. 468, 470, 471).
A so far unidentified epifaunal species, which had been known from image material, but
were not found in trawl and grab samples during preceding cruises was obtained by
push coring due to the masterly operation of the ROV tools by the "Victor 6000"-Team
(Dive 227, HG-IV).
The suprabenthic environment revealed occasional appearances of a cirriped octopus,
probably Cirroteuthis muelleri. The regular occurrence of compact, red-coloured
medusas was noted.
During the last ROV deployment (Dive 232), the high density of calanoid copepods in
the near-bottom water layer was striking, accompanied by a high abundance of
ctenophores.
Colonisation of artificial hard substrates – partial recovery
During the expedition ARKXV/1 in 1999, an metal frame carrying 40 artificial substrates
was deployed to study the colonisation by sessile species (see M. Klages, Ber.
Polarforsch. 339, 1999). Five plates (Perspex and bricks) could be recovered in the
course of Dive 232, three of which were sampled from the upper part of the frame and
two from the lower part. A first visual observation of the recovered plates from the lower
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