COMPARATIVE-STUDIES IN BIOCHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES (BIVALVES, OPHIUROIDS) FROM THE NORTHEAST WATER (NEW) POLYNYA

Two species of ophiuroids (Ophiopleura borecalis and Ophiacantha biden tata) and bivalves (Astarte crenata and Arctinula groenlandica) were c ollected within and adjacent to the Northeast Water Polynya off the no rtheast coast of Greenland, and analyzed for total moisture, protein, lipid, and ash content. Body composition varied significantly among st ations within species. Lipid and protein contents of Astarte crenata w ere higher in clams collected from the eastern Westwind Trough station s compared to those collected from the western Westwind Trough station s. However, the mean lipid and protein contents were significantly hig her in Ophiopleura borealis sampled from the western Westwind Trough c ompared to the eastern Westwind Trough. Ophiopleura borealis are mobil e deposit feeders and scavengers and may not be as directly dependent on sedimentary biogenic material as Astarte crenata and Ophiacantha bi dentata. Samples of both Ophiopleura borealis and Ophiacantha bidentat a from the Belgica Trough had lower protein and lipid contents compare d to those sampled in the western Westwind Trough. Samples of Arctinul a groenlandica from two locations on the Ob Bank had significantly dif ferent protein levels from each other. These data support previous wor k, indicating that biogenic materials resulting from primary productio n in the ice-free western area of the Northeast Water Polynya are adve cted eastward down the western Westwind Trough and that the Belgica Tr ough has lower organic input compared to the Westwind Trough.