Intertidal meiofauna of regherchefjorden and malbukta, vest-spitsbergen

Abstract

In summer 1977, meiofauna samples were collected using a 2.38 cm inner diameter perspex tube from five intertidal profiles on various Spitsbergen beaches. Profiles A, B (Recherchefjorden), and D (Malbukta) were situated on exposed beaches; their meiofaunal densities ranged from 38.25 to 654.75 ind. 10 cm−2 with a clear predominance of Turbellaria (27.78-95.18 %). Densities of the interstitial fauna on sheltered, detritus-rich profiles C (Recherchefjorden) and E (Malbukta) ranged from 67.5 to 4092.75 ind. 10 cm−2, a strong domination of nematodes (30.65-98.63 %) as well as a high percentage of oligochaetes (up to 56.75 %) and a more diversified meiofauna being observed on these profiles. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.