Faunal zones in the northwestern Atlantic based on polychaete distribution

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Pocklington, P., Tremblay, M. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1987
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Hudson; Hudson Strait
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z87-060; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z87-060

Polychaete presence/absence data (303 species at 50 locations) were used to identify faunal zones within the coastal region of the northwestern Atlantic between Hudson Strait and Cape Hatteras. Labrador, Acadian, and Virginian faunal zones were distinguished using cluster analysis. It was found that different depths at the same latitude belong to different faunal zones. A comparison with previous zoogeographic classifications is made, and strong parallels were found to exist between polychaete distribution and that of other groups of invertebrates.