Biological Oceanography

AG Benthos


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Species richness and abundance of meiobenthic organisms of eulittoral sandy beaches of eastern Australia.

Cooperations: Dr. D. Blome, Prof. Dr. U. Schleier, Prof. Dr. K. Rohde

Abstract: 

As a continuous coast-line from the tropics to the cold temperate, the eastern Australian coast offers an ideal opportunity for investigation into latitudinal gradients in faunal diversity. In spring 1997 and autumn 1998 investigations were carried out to study the taxonomy and species assemblages of Turbellaria, Nematoda, and Gastrotricha (Macrodasyida) of exposed intertidal sandy beaches at various localitites in eastern Australia.

As an increase in species diversity from high to low latitudes is a general pattern in ecology, the objective was to test this phenomenon is also reflected by marine meiobenthic organisms. Therefore, the study is based on 14 profiles (from hwl to lwl) of sampling sites taken from the tropic clime (Torres Strait) to the temperate clime south of Sydney. In due course the regional and within-beaches distribution and abundances will be presented as preliminary report of the meiobenthos of eastern Australia.

 

 


South-East Atlantic 2000,  Cruise No. 48/1:  Abundance and distribution of  meiobenthos from the deep Angola Basin.

Cooperation:  Dr. C. Noreña

The aim of the project was to study the taxonomy and abundance of soft-bodied meiobenthos (Turbellaria, Nemertini, Gastrotricha) along a transect in the Angola Basin. Investigations were made aboard the German research vessel 'METEOR'. Specimens were elutriated from sediment samples brought on board the ship using a box corer (BC) and a multiple corer (MC) at four benthos stations in around 5450m water depth. Expectedly, all animals obtained from the upper surface to about 5mm sediment depth, were dead and partly torn or more or less damaged. Therefore, determination of soft-bodied species on species level was impossible to carry out. Based on this fact, additionally,  individuals of the hard-bodied fauna, Nematoda and Harpacticoida, were also counted out before replacing the whole residue to the original sediment core fixed in 4% formaldehyde. In due course the abundances will be presented as preliminary report of the deepsea meiobenthos of the Angola Basin.

 


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