Abstract:Hornsund, an Arctic fjord in the west coast of Spitsbergen (Svalbard), was se− lected as All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) site under EU 5th Framework Concerted Action BIOMARE (2000)(2001)(2002), especially due to its pristine, undisturbed natural charac− ter. On the base of large material (89 stations located throughout the fjord and 129 Van Veen grab samples) collected during cruises of RV Oceania in July in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007 and literature search a comprehensive list of species recorded within Hornsund area, on the soft bottom with depth range of 30-250 m is provided. Over 220 species were identified in− cluding 93 species of Polychaeta, 62 species of Mollusca and 58 species of Crustacea. Spe− cies list is supported by information on the zoogeographical status, body length and biologi− cal traits of dominant species. Need for further research on Hornsund soft bottom fauna with more sampling effort is highlighted.
Within the COST action EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) the degree and variation of the diversity and densities of soft-bottom communities from the lower intertidal or the shallow subtidal was measured at twenty-eight marine sites along the European coastline (Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean) using jointly-agreed and harmonised protocols, tools and indicators. The hypothesis tested was that the diversity for all taxonomic groups would decrease with increasing latitude. The EMBOS system delivered accurate and comparable data on the diversity and densities of the soft sediment macrozoobenthic community over a large-scale gradient along the European coastline. In contrast to general biogeographic theory, species diversity showed no linear relationship with latitude, yet a bell-shaped relation was found.The diversity and densities of benthos were mostly positively correlated with environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, mud and organic matter content in sediment, or wave height, and related with location characteristics such as system type (lagoons, estuaries, open coast) or stratum (intertidal, subtidal).For some relationships, a maximum (e.g. temperature from 15 to 20 °C; mud content of sediment around 40 %) or bimodal curve (e.g. salinity) was found. In lagoons the densities were twice higher than in other locations, and at open coasts the diversity was much lower than in other locations. We conclude that latitudinal trends and regional differences in diversity and densities are strongly influenced by, i.e. merely the result of, particular sets and ranges of environmental factors and location characteristics specific to certain areas, such as the Baltic, with typical salinity clines (favouring insects) and the Mediterranean, with higher temperatures (favouring crustaceans). Therefore, eventual trends with latitude are primarily indirect and so can be overcome by local variation of environmental factors.
During autumn 2007, an unusual increase in an algal species belonging to the order Prymnesiales was observed throughout the Baltic Sea Proper during routine national monitoring. Electron microscopical examination of the blooming species showed two types of flat scales -small and large -that resembled those of the alternate stage of Prymnesium polylepis. No spinebearing scales were found. The 18S rDNA sequence data (n ¼ 20, c. 1500 bp) verified the species identification as P. polylepis. There was up to 0.5% (7 bp) variability in the P. polylepis partial 18 S rDNA sequences from the Baltic Sea. These environmental sequences differed by 0-0.35% (0-4 bp) from cultured P. polylepis (isolate UIO036), and by 1.0-3.7% from other available Prymnesium sequences. The number of cells assumed to be P. polylepis began to increase in October 2007 coincidently with significantly calm and dry weather, and at their maximum the cells accounted for over 80% of the total phytoplankton biovolume in December-January. During February-April 2008, 95% of the Prymnesiales cells were in the size class of P. polylepis (46 mm). The species attained bloom concentrations (41 Â 10 6 cells l -1 ) from March to May 2008. The species was observed throughout the Baltic Sea, except the Bothnian Bay, Gulf of Riga and the Kattegat. No toxic effects of the bloom were observed.
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