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Theme: Mapping Habitats and determining ecological statusHigh-resolution habitat mapping on mud fields: new approach to quantitativemapping of Ocean quahogArtem Isachenko 1 , Yana Gubanova 2 , Alexander Tzetlin 1 , Vadim Mokievsky 31MSU, White Sea Biological Station, Russian Federation2MSU, Faculty of Geology, Russian Federation3Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences, RussianFederationEmail: isachenko@wsbs-msu.ruGeophysical data has been successfully used to evaluate contrast biologicalobjects on the sea bottom, such as communities associated with seamounts,pock-marks, oyster or mussels banks. The challenge is to create habitatmap using remote geophysical methods in conditions of more homogenoussubstrate (mud fields) by developing new methods of data analysis.The main objectives of study were to develop and apply effective methodologybased on new approach to data interpretation for quantitative high-resolutionmapping of Arctica islandica (Bivalvia) dense settlement and associatedcommunity.Spatial structure of benthic communities and dominant specimen distributionshow high heterogenity in the area of survey. Thus, samples can’t be validlyinterpolated to the area of more than 20 m in radius.During 2010–2012 side-scan sonar surveys, qualitative sediment sampling,underwater photo- and videoimaging were carried out at the polygon inKandalaksha bay, the White Sea (Russian Arctic).Structurally uniform localities were highlighted during interpretation ofside-scan signal. Each type of signal reflects combination of bottom type,microtopography and structural characteristics of benthic community.Main effect on the latter is produced by distribution of A. islandica. Seabedattributes considered most significant were defined for each type of localities.These relations were used for landscape mapping based on sonar data.Pointed biological data were reliably interpolated to the area of survey usingstatistical processing of geophysical data.Developed method of integrated data interpretation allows to create highresolutionmap of A. islandica by biomass groups, benthic faunal groups andassociated habitats.- 46 -