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

Abstract

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.

Key words:

• Arthropoda
• distribution
• MAREANO
• North Atlantic
• Pycnogonida

Funding

We would like to thank the Norwegian Deep Water Programme through The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters for financial support. The MAREANO programme is financed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Climate and Environment. We would also like to thank senior engineer Kjell Bakkeplass at IMR for nice area and station maps.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material for this article is available via the Supplemental tab of the article's online page at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2014.889308.

Editorial responsibility: John Zardus

Additional information

Funding

Funding: We would like to thank the Norwegian Deep Water Programme through The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters for financial support. The MAREANO programme is financed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Climate and Environment. We would also like to thank senior engineer Kjell Bakkeplass at IMR for nice area and station maps.