MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Sampler bias in the quantitative study of deep-sea meiobenthos *

ABSTRACT: The influence of sampler type on quantitative estimates of deep-sea meiobenthos is examined by a n indirect statistical comparison of box corer and multiple corer samples collected throughout the northeast Atlantic, and by a direct comparison of contemporaneously collected multiple corer a...

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Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
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Language:English
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Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1040.9897
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Summary:ABSTRACT: The influence of sampler type on quantitative estimates of deep-sea meiobenthos is examined by a n indirect statistical comparison of box corer and multiple corer samples collected throughout the northeast Atlantic, and by a direct comparison of contemporaneously collected multiple corer and box corer samples from a single abyssal location. The data strongly support the suggestion that the greater down-wash/bow wave associated with box corers results in displacement of surface sediments and any superfic~al detrltus layer together with thelr associated fauna. Total metazoan meiobenthos density estimates from box corer samples are about half those from corresponding multiple corer samples Sampler type may also influence the fauna1 composition of both the metazoan and protozoan components of the meiobenthos. KEY WORDS: Meiobenthos . Deep sea . Sampling . Box c o r e r . Multiple c o r e r . Northeast Atlantic