Distribution of sea spiders (Pycnogonida, Arthropoda) off northern Norway, collected by MAREANO

• Main Authors: Halldis Ringvold, Hassel, Arne, Bamber, Roger N., Buhl-Mortensen, Lene
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2014
• Subjects: Inorganic Chemistry; FOS Chemical sciences; Biological Sciences; Ecology; FOS Biological sciences; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Evolutionary Biology; Marine Biology; Arctic; Norwegian Sea; Norway; Van Veen; Northern Norway
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1108073.v2; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Distribution_of_sea_spiders_Pycnogonida_Arthropoda_off_northern_Norway_collected_by_MAREANO/1108073/2

Knowledge of sea spider (Pycnogonida, Arthropoda) distribution and habitat preferences within Norwegian waters is scarce. During the MAREANO programme from 2007 to 2009, 3909 pycnogonid specimens representing 21 species and nine genera were collected. Pycnogonida were found at a total of 60 stations from 78 to 2609 m depth using van Veen grab, RP-sledge and beam trawl. Nymphon , the dominant genus, constituted 52% of the specimens sampled. Cilunculus battenae was recorded for the first time within Norwegian waters, and Pseudopallene longicollis was recorded for the first time in Norwegian Arctic waters (72°16′N, 14°36′E at ‒0.64°C). New records of Pseudopallene brevicollis , Boreonymphon robustum and B. ossiansarsi are reported. Boreonymphon abyssorum and Nymphon macronyx showed the widest depth ranges (100–2000 m depth). The known northern distribution of Callipallene producta was extended to 71°42′N, 15°25′E, Northern Norway. Two-thirds of the species found had their centre of distribution below 500 m and a species diversity maximum was found at 800–900 m. Four main species groups with different depth distributions were identified by cluster analysis: (1) shallow, above transition zone; (2) lower part of transition zone (transition zone is cold Norwegian Sea Arctic Intermediary Water (0.5 to −0.5°C) at 600 to 900 m depth); (3) lower transition zone, wide-ranging; and (4) mainly below 1000 m depth. A Detrended Correspondence Analysis supported the same pattern of clustering.