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Vertical Distribution of Meiobenthos in Bathyal Sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Relationship with Labile Organic Matter and Bacterial Biomasses
Author(s) -
Danovaro Roberto,
Fabiano Mauro,
Albertelli Giancarlo,
Croce Norberto Della
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.1995.tb00398.x
Subject(s) - meiobenthos , bathyal zone , benthic zone , organic matter , mediterranean sea , sediment , oceanography , biomass (ecology) , mediterranean climate , sedimentary organic matter , environmental science , spatial distribution , deep sea , total organic carbon , environmental chemistry , biology , ecology , chemistry , geology , paleontology , remote sensing
. Quantitative information on the vertical distribution of meiofaunal abundances and biomass were obtained from samples collected at 3 bathyal stations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea located at the same depth but characterized by different food supply. Vertical distribution patterns of nieiofauna were investigated in relation to the biochemical composition of the sediment organic matter (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) and compared to benthic bacterial standing stocks. No significant relationship between bacteria and meiofauna was found, whereas a significant relationship between protein and lipid concentrations and total meiofauna density was observed. These data suggest that labile organic matter. considered as material readily aVdihbk to benthic consumers, may be an important factor regulating meiofaunal abundance and vertical distribution in deep‐sea sediments.