Approach and methods for sampling of benthic fauna on the 2004 MAR-ECO expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract

During June and July 2004 the project MAR-ECO conducted a multidisciplinary expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the Reykjanes Ridge and the Azores. Benthic macro invertebrates were collected by otter trawl at 22 locations. This report describes sampling approach, technology and sample-processing procedures.

Keywords:

• benthos
• MAR-ECO
• Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• sampling
• technologies

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the officers and the crews of the RV G.O. Sars and the RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh for their help at sea. We are also grateful to the pilots of ROVs Bathysaurus and Aglantha and submersibles Mir-1 and Mir-2. Special thanks are due to the staff of the Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen for curating the MAR-ECO collections. Two anonymous referees helped us to improve the manuscript. This publication and all papers in the present issue of Marine Biology Research are elements of MAR-ECO, a field project under the Census of Marine Life programme.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark