SAMPLER BIAS IN THE QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF DEEP-SEA MEIOBENTHOS

The influence of sampler type on quantitative estimates of deep-sea me iobenthos is examined by an indirect statistical comparison of box cor er and multiple corer samples collected throughout the northeast Atlan tic, and by a direct comparison of contemporaneously collected multipl e corer and box corer samples from a single abyssal location. The data strongly support the suggestion that the greater down-wash/bow wave a ssociated with box corers results in displacement of surface sediments and any superficial detritus layer together with their associated fau na. Total metazoan meiobenthos density estimates from box corer sample s are about half those from corresponding multiple corer samples. Samp ler type may also influence the faunal composition of both the metazoa n and protozoan components of the meiobenthos.