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

Tab. C9-1: Sampling sites for investigations on small- and large-scale distribution patterns of
macrofaunal organisms at AWI-“Hausgarten”
1
2
3
Station Gear Latitude Longitude Depth (m)
PS64/440 GKG 1 79° 4,79' N 4° 6,05' E 2500,0
PS64/441 GKG 2 79° 4,89' N 4° 5,77' E 2499,6
PS64/442 GKG 3 79° 5,22' N 4° 6,13' E 2482,0
PS64/454 GKG 4 78° 55,01' N 5° 0,27' E 2636,8
PS64/455 GKG 5 78° 54,97' N 5° 0,24' E 2637,2
PS64/456 GKG 6 78° 54,97' N 5° 0,25' E 2637,6
PS64/461 GKG 7 78° 56,02' N 4° 59,60' E 2610,4
PS64/462 GKG 8 78° 56,04' N 4° 59,62' E 2610,0
PS64/463 GKG 9 78° 56,21' N 4° 59,18' E 2606,0
C. 10 Vertical distribution of benthic fauna in sediments along the water depth
gradient
Urban-Malinga, B., Jankowska, K., Juterzenka, K.v.
The main objective of this project was to study the vertical distribution of benthic fauna in
sediments along the water depth gradient and to relate this distribution to the changing
physical environment. Until now only few efforts were made to quantify the vertical
distribution of macrofauna in the Arctic.
The major questions addressed are:
a) Does a pattern in the vertical distribution of benthic fauna inhabiting sediments along
the water depth gradient exist?
b) If so, how can this pattern be related to the changing biotic/abiotic environment
(sediment texture, food quality and availability etc. changing both with water depth
and sediment depth gradient) and if so, to what extend?
What has already been done?
Sediment samples were taken at 9 stations along the water depth transect between
1000 m and 5500 m (every 500 m depth; stations in “Hausgarten” area: HG-I to HG-IX).
Macrofauna was sampled with a giant box-corer (0.25 m 2 in area). Two or three replicate
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