ABYSSAL MEGAFAUNAL NECROPHAGES - LATITUDINAL DIFFERENCES IN THE EASTERN NORTH-ATLANTIC OCEAN

A pop-up time-lapse camera system (BATHYSNACK) was used to study megaf aunal organisms attracted to bait at three abyssal localities in the e astern North Atlantic Ocean, a northern site on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain and two sub-tropical sites on the Madeira Abyssal Plain. Fish an d decapod crustaceans appeared on 47 % of photographs taken during dep loyments of up to seven days duration. The fishes Coryphaenoides (Nema tonurus) armatus and Pachycara bulbiceps and the decapod Munidopsis sp p. dominated appearances at the northern locality whereas over 95 % of records at the two subtropical localities were of the decapod Plesiop enaeus armatus. Cyclical variations in necrophage abundance did not co rrelate with tidal cycles of near-bottom currents, although high P. ar matus numbers were inversely related to current speed. Most of the fre quently recorded entities showed contagious intraspecific distribution s. In contrast, many of the inter-species relationships were non-rando m, with co-occurrences lower than expected, probably as a result of ph ysical disturbance or potential predation. Population densities based on times of first arrival were calculated. Assemblages dominated by fi sh at higher latitudes and crustaceans at lower latitudes are discusse d in terms of organic carbon supply to the deep sea and pelagic commun ity structures.