Bryozoa (Polyzoa) of Arctic Canada

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Powell, N. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1968
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Arctic; Atlantic Arctic; Atlantic-Arctic; Herschel Island; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f68-202; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f68-202

Ninety-three species of Bryozoa are reported here from the area of arctic Canada extending from Belle Isle Strait westward to Herschel Island. Bathymetric and distributional data, both local and regional, are given for all species. Photomicrographs are provided for 47 species. One species, Stomachetosella hincksi, is described as new. Electra crustulenta (Pallas) var. arctica Borg is accorded specific rank. Callopora smitti Kluge is referred to the genus Copidozoum and Hippodiplosia obesa (Waters) is transferred to the genus Schizoporella. A new family, Hincksiporidae, monotypical for H. spinulifera (Hincks), is attributed to the Ascophora Imperfecta. Porella princeps (Norman, 1903b) is considered to be a synonym of Pachyegis producta (Packard, 1863), and Codonellina operculata Mawatari (1956) a synonym of Schizomavella porifera (Smitt, 1867). The following eight species are new for arctic Canada: Terminoflustra barleei, Scrupocellaria arctica, Reginella spitzbergensis, Hippoporina cancellata, Schismopora nodulosa, Escharella thompsoni, Smittina mucronata, Pseudoflustra sinuosa. Except for R. spitzbergensis and H. cancellata, these are also new for arctic North America.The zoogeographical relationships of the fauna are discussed, three main types of distribution being recognised, viz., panarctic, boreal-panarctic, and Atlantic–arctic. No relationship between faunal distribution and the surface waters of the arctic and subarctic zones is apparent, the majority of species transgressing both. Compared with the bryozoan fauna of the antarctic region, the arctic group is impoverished in indigenous taxa.