Benthic fauna in the Pechora Sea

Quantitative samples of benthic fauna were collected at 15 stations for analysis of species distribution and faunal composition. Multivariate statistics indicate that the sampling stations cover a heterogeneous area with different types of community composition, as might be expected, since the Pechora Sea encompasses a wide range of depths and oceanographic conditions. However, some distinct station groupings were evident, which are considered to represent different faunal community types. Around the Island of Kolguyev, the fauna was dominated by sub-surface detritivorous Polychaeta. On the coast of Novaya Zemlya, the Chernaya Fjord contained an opportunistic faunal composition. The deep area immediately south of Novaya Zemlya was characterised by high numbers of large, surface deposit feeding Polychaeta. The Kara Strait area showed some spatial variation in faunal characteristics, but generally contained high numbers of surface deposit feeding Polychaeta and Crustacea as well as encrusting suspensivores on stones. The stations sampled between Kolguyev and the Pechora Bay contained large amounts of macrofaunal Foraminifera and detritivorous Polychaeta, while the fauna sampled in the Pechora Bay was typical of northern, low salinity environments. Canonical correspondence analyses indicate that water depth and sediment type play a major role in structuring the benthic fauna. The distribution of community types described in this investigation largely follow those outlined in previous Russian investigations, despite the use of different analytical strategies. This investigation provides the background for an intercomparison of methodologies in faunal analyses.