Benthic Harpacticoida of the Cara sea: species composition and bathymetric distribution

Data on benthic harpacticoid copepods from the Voronin Trench (central part of the Kara Sea) are reported for the first time. Harpacticoids accounted for 1–25% of total meiofauna, their abundance varied from 6 to 102 ind/10 cm2 and decreased with depth. Totally, 42 nominal species have been found, 15 species are new for the Kara Sea, and at least eight species are new for science. Several species are first records for the Arctic waters (Cylindronannopus bispinosus, Haloschizopera clotensis, H. bathyalis, Metauntemannia pseudomagniceps, Mesocletdemus duosetosus, M. parabodini, Proameira echinipes, Cletodes tuberculatus). Ameiridae, Argestidae, Pseudotachidiidae, Miraciidae and Ectinosomatidae are the most species-rich families. Joint analysis with data on shallow-water stations (Yenisei Gulf, southern Kara Sea) revealed three assemblages occupying different habitats. The assemblage inhabiting shallow silts (20–62 m in depth) was the poorest one, the shallow sands were more species-rich, while the deepest stations (92–698 m) was the richest one. The latter assemblage had the composition of families typical for the deep-sea areas. The known fauna of the Kara Sea includes 82 harpacticoid species, most of which have been also reported from north Atlantic and/or western Arctic waters.