HLY-05-02 Macrofauna Data [Bluhm]

A total of 99 infauna taxa were identified, including at least three new species of polychaetes. This dataset is part of the Pacific Marine Arctic Regional Synthesis (PacMARS) Project. Multivariate analysis indicated that station groups "Chukchi slope," "Canada Basin abyss" and "Chukchi Cap" were moderately, but significantly, different in the infauna samples, but could not be similarly distinguished as such in the epifauna photographs.

This data set contains the raw counts for each box core replicate sample, mostly per 0.06 m2 (20x30 cm) for replicates 1 and 2, and per 0.03 m2 for replicate 3. The second half of replicate three was used to sample for measurements of grain size, sediment organic carbon, etc. Those environmental data as well as mean station totals of abundance and biomass are in the related publication: MacDonald IR, Bluhm BA (shared 1st authorship), Iken K, Gagaev S, Strong S (2010) "Benthic macrofaunal and megafaunal assemblages in the Arctic deep-sea Canada Basin." Deep-Sea Research II 57:136-152.

Species identifications were primarily conducted by the taxonomists listed in the data file.