ARCTIC Baffin Island Fjord Macrobenthos: Bottom Communities and Environmental Significance’

ABSTRACT. Cluster analysis of the benthos from ten Baffin Island fjords defines six faunal associations. The macrotidal Sunneshine Fiord has a shallow kelp-related Isopod Association. Cambridge Fiord supports a shallow Onuphid Association controlled by gravel from dropstones. A widespread Portlandia...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: James P. M. Syvitski, George E. Farrow, R. J. A. Atkinson
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1989
Subjects:
Key words
macrobenthos
Arctic
cluster analysis
bivalve
Quaternary
Baffin Island
Cambridge Fiord
Sunneshine Fiord
Baffin
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.454.8091
http://arctic.synergiesprairies.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/download/1662/1641/
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT. Cluster analysis of the benthos from ten Baffin Island fjords defines six faunal associations. The macrotidal Sunneshine Fiord has a shallow kelp-related Isopod Association. Cambridge Fiord supports a shallow Onuphid Association controlled by gravel from dropstones. A widespread Portlandia Association typified the shallow zones of more recently glaciated fjords where sedimentation rates are high. An Ophiuroid-Anemone Association was defined from current-affected submarine channel environments. A Maldanid Association covered the greatest area in all fjords and passed into an Elasipod Association in the deepest water in Cambridge Fiord. Fjord-head faunas are used to model ecological changes accompanying glacier retreat, from monospecific Portlandia, through mature Portlandia Association to Onuphid Association accompanied by diverse filter feeders and herbivores. Chlamys islandica was found living in Cambridge Fiord, which substantially increases its northern limit.

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