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

From 1200, 2500 and 4000 m water depth an extra replicate was taken with a core of
3.6 cm diameter (10 cm 2 ) in order to analyse the influence of sample size on biodiversity
measurements.
Results
Preliminary results show significant interannual variation in the meiobenthos
composition. Kinorhyncha, Tardigrada and Gastrotricha are absent in the year 2000,
while present in 2002. In 2001 only Kinorhyncha were found. Highest mean nematode
densities were found in 2002 (2804 nematodes/10 cm 2 ), at 2000 m water depth
(Fig. C12-1). This is also the case for copepods which reach a mean density of 69
copepods/10 cm 2 at this station (Fig. C12-2). Nematodes and copepods show the same
trend in densities along the bathymetrical transect (Fig. C12-3).
3500
mean nematode densities/10 cm 2
Mean; Whisker: Mean-SE, Mean+SE
3000
2500
nem/10 cm 2
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 5000
depth
NEM2000
NEM2001
NEM2002
Fig. C12-1: mean nematode densities/10 cm 2 for the years 2000-2002.
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