Metazoan meiobenthos along continental margins: a review

The sediment-inhabiting:: meiofauna is a major component of benthic ecosyst ems, particularly in the deep sea. Knowledge on the deep-sea meiobenthos ha s increased considerably during recent decades, and attempts have been made to relate standing stocks with various environmental factors. The flux of organic matter from surface productivity to the seafloor has: been proven t o exert considerable control on benthic standing stocks. The energy content of sedimentating organic matter generally decreases with water depth becau se of degradation processes within the water column. Consequently, benthic standing stocks decrease with increasing water depth. Generally enhanced de nsities of benthic animals are to be expected in areas of increased surface production and subsequently enhanced flux of organic matter to the seafloo r. Thus, meiobenthic densities and biomasses should show perceptible differ ences not only with water depth, but also between areas with different prim ary productivity in surface layers. The objective of this paper is to conde nse current information focusing on the abundance of metazoan meiofauna alo ng continental margins, and to compare meiofauna stocks from various climat ic regions of the world, representing areas of diverse productivity in the water column. Results clearly demonstrate regional differences on global sc ale: richer communities were generally found in areas with increased produc tivity and enhanced input of organic matter to the seafloor. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.