The Biology of the Deep-Sea Species of Mysidacea (Crustacea) of the Rockall Trough

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Author: Mauchline, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1986
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Rockall Trough; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002531540004844x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002531540004844X

The mysid fauna of the Rockall Trough consists of more than 35 species partitioned between the pelagic water column and the bentho-pelagic environment. The pelagic mysids are dominated by Eucopia grimaldii, E. unguiculata and Boreomysis microps. The benthopelagic mysids, in a transect from 400 to 2900 m depth, are divided into four faunal associations. Pseudomma affine dominates the 400–800 m depth range; the impinging bathypelagic Gnathophausia zoea and the benthopelagic Boreomysis widens dominate the 800–1300 m range; Michthyops parva and Paramblyops rostrata are co-dominants in the 1400–2300 m range; while Amblyopsoides ohlinii dominates the 2170–2965 m range. The benthopelagic mysid fauna is most diverse at depths below 1400 m. It is dominated by species whose geographical distribution is restricted to the North Atlantic, in contrast to the pelagic mysid fauna, which is dominated by cosmopolitan species. Notes on the breeding season, biology and population structure of several species are given.