Species composition and quantitative characteristics of polychaetes in the western and northern parts of the Barents Sea were analyzed on the basis of the material collected in July and November 2017 on MMBI expeditions aboard the RV “Dalniye Zelentsy”. Three faunistic polychaete complexes were revealed, depending on environmental conditions in the study area. A change in species composition and structure of communities from the bottom topography, structure of bottom sediments and bottom hydrodynamics were noted. An increase in biomass and density of polychaetes settlement was revealed in deep-water areas of the Barents Sea, on soft silty-clay soils, where the dominant species is Spiochaetopterus typicus. A decrease in quantitative characteristics of polychaetes was observed in shallow areas, on hard soils, in the zone of intensive erosion of bottom sediments as a result of warm and cold currents interaction, where the polychaete Nothria hyperborea dominated

Dikaeva, Dinara

Frolova, Elena

English

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BRDEM-2019International applied research conference«Biological Resources Development and Environmental Management»Volume 2020Conference PaperDistribution of Polychaeta Communities in theWestern and Northern Part of the Barents SeaDinara Dikaeva and Elena FrolovaMurmansk Marine Biological Institute KSC RAS, Murmansk, RussiaAbstractSpecies composition and quantitative characteristics of polychaetes in the western andnorthern parts of the Barents Sea were analyzed on the basis of the material collectedin July and November 2017 on MMBI expeditions aboard the RV ``Dalniye Zelentsy''.Three faunistic polychaete complexes were revealed, depending on environmentalconditions in the study area. A change in species composition and structure ofcommunities from the bottom topography, structure of bottom sediments and bottomhydrodynamics were noted. An increase in biomass and density of polychaetessettlement was revealed in deep-water areas of the Barents Sea, on soft silty-clay soils,where the dominant species is Spiochaetopterus typicus. A decrease in quantitativecharacteristics of polychaetes was observed in shallow areas, on hard soils, in thezone of intensive erosion of bottom sediments as a result of warm and cold currentsinteraction, where the polychaete Nothria hyperborea dominated.Keywords: polychaeta, communities, Barents Sea1. IntroductionBottom relief significantly affects the distribution of bottom sediments, circulation ofwater masses, as well as the composition of bottom fauna. We described the effect ofthe Barents Sea marginal deeps on species composition and quantitative distributionof polychaetes in our previous studies [1]. Warm Atlantic waters [2, 3] flow into theBarents Sea along boundary trenches, contributing to an increase in species diversityof benthic organisms. Stations located in a study area intersect South Cape Trench andBear-Hope Islands flat, Storfjord Strait and the northern region of the Barents Sea. Theseareas are subject to South Spitsbergen Current warm waters and East Spitsbergen andBear Currents cold waters influence, which affect species composition and structure ofbenthic communities. A complex pattern of water circulation and bottom topographydetermines interest in studying fauna in a given area. Despite the sufficient study ofbenthic communities in western and northern parts of the Barents Sea [4--8], researcheson species and quantitative composition of polychaete worms in the study area areHow to cite this article: Dinara Dikaeva and Elena Frolova, (2020), ``Distribution of Polychaeta Communities in the Western and Northern Part ofthe Barents Sea'' in International applied research conference «Biological Resources Development and Environmental Management», KnE LifeSciences, pages 44--50. DOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019Page 44Corresponding Author:Dinara Dikaevadinara.dikaeva@yandex.ruReceived: 24 December 2019Accepted: 9 January 2020Published: 15 January 2020Publishing services provided byKnowledge EDinara Dikaeva and ElenaFrolova. This article is distributedunder the terms of the CreativeCommons Attribution License,which permits unrestricted useand redistribution provided thatthe original author and sourceare credited.Selection and Peer-review underthe responsibility of theBRDEM-2019 ConferenceCommittee.BRDEM-2019not enough [1, 9]. Structure and diversity of Polychaeta settlements reflect developmenttrends of benthic communities [10]. Therefore, the study of modern species compositionand quantitative characteristics of polychaetes in this area is of particular interest. Thepurpose of the research is to study changes in species composition and quantitativecharacteristics of polychaetes depending on environmental conditions.2. MethodsThe material studied was 61 quantitative samples withdrawn from the board of theresearch vessel ``Dalnie Zelentsy'' at 21 stations during the integrated expedition of theMurmansk Marine Biological Institute in July and November 2017 (Figure 1). Samplingfrom a depth of 79 to 331 m using a Van Veen bottom grab (capture area, 0.1 m2) wasmade in triplicate. After washing the soil through a polycaprolactam sieve with a meshsize of 0.75 mm and fixation in 4% formalin, the invertebrates were placed into 70%alcohol. Polychaete were identified by us. To assess their biogeographical composition,we used the polychaete areas classification proposed by Zhyrkov [11]. To determinethe groups of stations with similar species compositions, we used cluster analysis bythe weighted average method based on the Bray--Curtis similarity coefficient [12]. Therelative metabolic rate, an index of a species contribution in terms of biomass and thenumber of individuals, was used as a measure of abundance to determine the dominantspecies group:M = K · N0.25 · B0.75where N is the number of individuals, B is biomass, K is taxon-specific coefficient of thespecific metabolic rate [13].3. ResultsIn the area studied, 114 Polychaeta taxa have been identified, of which 89 were deter-mined down to the species level. The number of species at stations varies from 21 to52, the maximum number of species is noted on silty-clay soils with stones and shells.The minimum amount is marked on sandy soils with clay, shell and gravel (Table 1).The biogeographic composition is dominated by boreal-arctic species (83%), thenumber of boreal species (10%) exceeds the number of arctic species (7%). The largestnumber of boreal species is noted at st. 19, 20, 21, in the area of warm waters ofSpitsbergen Current influence.DOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 45BRDEM-2019Figure 1: Layout scheme of the benthic stations in the Barents Sea.Table 1: Quantitative parameters of the polychaete communities in the Barents Sea.Stationno.Depth Tempera-ture, ∘CThenumberofspeciesBiomass,g/m2Abundance,ind./m2Dominant species (in termsof metabolism)14 150 4.2 50 18±6 1600±540 Nothria hyperborea15 144 4.5 25 13.5±4 1040±133 Nothria hyperborea16 199 4.6 50 80±11 6747±700 Spiochaetopterus typicus17 101 3.8 21 3.5±1 473±223 Nothria hyperborea18 142 5.3 50 48±7 2517±224 Nothria hyperborea19 250 4.7 51 30±10 1223±270 Spiochaetopterus typicus20 320 4 41 25±10 1750±240 Spiochaetopterus typicus21 285 3.3 42 29.5±29.5 2750±2750 Asychis biceps34 281 0.8 37 56±18 1147±95 Spiochaetopterus typicus35 242 -0.5 44 11±3 1780±193 Maldane arctica,Spiochaetopterus typicus36 250 -1 52 82±11 2410±442 Spiochaetopterus typicus37 234 0.8 51 51±5 3100±362 Spiochaetopterus typicus39 79 0.4 49 11±3 1770±580 Terebellides stroemi68 331 0.7 36 28±5.5 1160±153 Spiochaetopterus typicus70 184 0.9 37 23.4±2.5 1463±222 Nicomache lumbricalis72 300 -0.9 34 32±12 893±135 Spiochaetopterus typicus74 112 -0.3 39 14±3.5 1607±200 Lumbrineris fragilis78 151 -1.9 36 63.5±21 4203±143 Maldane sarsi79 130 -1.8 39 41.5±9 3110±79 Maldane sarsi80 157 -1.2 27 97±11 4237±20 Spiochaetopterus typicus81 218 0.8 49 88±13 4340±225 Spiochaetopterus typicusBiomass of polychaete in the research area varied from 4 to 100 g/m2, high valueswere noted in the northern region of the Barents Sea, in the region of Bear Island, inDOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 46BRDEM-2019Storfjord area on silty-clay, silty-sandy soils. Population density of polychaetes variedfrom 470 to 6750 ind./m2, maximum values were noted in the same areas as biomass.Collecting detritophage Spiochaetopterus typicus dominates by biomass at stations,and Galathowenia oculata by settlement density.Three faunistic polychaete complexes were distinguished by a cluster analysismethod in the studied area (Figure 2).Figure 2: Dendrogram of the polychaete species similarity in the Barents Sea.The first complex is located in Bear-Hope Islands flat area, and in the northern regionof the Barents Sea on sandy soils with shell, pebbles and stones at depths from 105 to150 m, with water temperatures from -0.3 to + 5.3∘C. Carnivorous polychaete Nothriahyperborea and Galathowenia oculata dominate in terms of metabolic intensity andbiomass share in this complex. The complex is characterized by minimal biomassvalues (19 ± 4 g/m2) and low settlement density (1310 ± 263 ind./m2). The biogeographiccomposition is dominated by boreal-arctic species (83%), the number of boreal species(11%) exceeds the number of arctic species (6%).The second faunistic complex was found in Southcape trench deep-water areas, at astation in Bear Island -- Hope Island plateau area north of Bear Island, in the external partof Storfjord strait and in the northern part of the Barents Sea at depths from 190 to 328m, on silty-clay soils, with water temperature from -0.9 to 4.7∘C. Here Spiochaetopterustypicus dominates in terms of metabolic intensity and biomass share, andGalathoweniaoculata in terms of the number. The complex is characterized by high biomass (50 ±12 g/m2) and an average settlement density (2520 ± 420 ind./m2). The biogeographicDOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 47BRDEM-2019composition is dominated by boreal-arctic species (90%), the number of boreal speciesis 10%, the number of arctic species is 7%.The third complex with a dominance of subsurface deposit feederMaldane sarsi wasnoted in the inner part of Storfjord strait and on the southern slope of West Spitsbergenon silty-clay soils with sand, gravel, shell, at depths from 130 to 285 m, at a temperatureof -1.25 to 3.3 ∘C. The complex is characterized by average values of biomass (44 ± 20g/m2) and high population density (3355 ± 990 ind./m2).A station (39) was distinguished separately andwas not included in clusters, located ata depth of 79 meters on stony sandy soils, characterized by minimal biomass values andaverage settlement density, where Terebellides stroemi dominates in terms of metabolicrate share.4. DiscussionResults of our research have shown that faunal complexes in the study area have aspotty distribution. However, in each section of bottom, they replace each other inaccordance with relief and hydrodynamic bottom conditions causing composition andabundance of food material.An increase in biomass and density of polychaetes was observed on silty-clay soils indeep-water areas of South Cape Trench, Bear Island Bank, in Storfjord Strait, as well asin northern regions of the Barents Sea. Spiochaetopterus typicus is a dominant speciesby biomass and metabolic rate. Favourable conditions for detritophages are created inhollows of the bottom with weakened hydrodynamics, where sedimentation process ofsuspension predominates over its transfer [4], which leads to biomass increase.A decrease in biomass and population density of polychaete communities was notedwith a decrease in depth along Bear Island-Hope Island flat, as well as in northernregions of the Barents Sea. Polychaeta Nothria hyperborea is the dominant species inthis area. Unfavorable conditions for the development of detritus phages are createdon hard soils with a predominance of coarse clastic material, in the zone of intensiveerosion of bottom sediments, as a result of warm and cold currents interaction, whereprecipitation processes transfer dominate over formation processes, which leads to adecrease in biomass and density of polychaete.The obtained data confirm results of past studies. According to A.P. Kuznetsov,Spiochaetopterus typicus and Galathowenia oculata play the main role in fauna com-position in the area of Bear Island-Spitsbergen Plateau [4]. Also, detritophage Spi-ochaetopterus typicus dominated in the deep-water areas of South cape trench, onDOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 48BRDEM-2019Bear Island and St. Anna slopes in previous studies [1, 9]. Trenches, being areas ofsedimentary substances accumulation [14, 15], increase the food supply for benthicorganisms that contribute to an increase in quantitative characteristics of polychaetes.5. ConclusionThus, obtained data confirm previously published results on the effect of the bottomstructure, bottom sediments, depth, and bottom hydrodynamics on the distribution ofpolychaetes fauna in the Barents Sea [1, 9]. As a result of the research, three faunisticcomplexes of polychaetes were identified depending on environmental conditions. Anincrease in polychaetes quantitative characteristics is noted in the study area in bottomdepths, on soft soils, where the dominant species is the detritophage Spiochaetopterustypicus. Current results significantly complement the data on species composition andquantitative distribution of Polychaeta communities in the western and northern partsof the Barents Sea.References[1] Frolova, E. A., Dikaeva, D. R. (2017). Polychaeta fauna and marginal deeps of theBarents Sea. Transections of the Kola Science. Oceanology, vol. 4, No. 2 (8), pp.81-88.[2] Ozhigin, V. K., Ivshin, V. A. (1999). Water mass of the Barents Sea. Murmansk.[3] Matishov, G. G., Matishov, D. G., Moiseev, D. V. (2009). Inflow of Atlantic-origin watersto the Barents Sea along glacial troughs. Oceanologia, vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 293-312.[4] Kuznetsov, A. P. (1970). Patterns in the distribution of food groupings of bottominvertebrates in the Barents Sea. Trud y Inst. Okeanol, vol. 88, pp. 5-80.[5] Anisimova, N. A. (1989). Distribution patterns of echinoderms in the Eurasian sectorof the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic seas. New York, pp 281--301.[6] Denisenko, S. G. (2008). Macrozoobenthos of the Barents Sea under the conditionsof changing climate and anthropogenic impact. PhD Dissertation, St. Petersburg,Zool. Inst., Russ. Acad. Sci.[7] Zakharov, D. V., Lyubin, P. A. (2012). Fauna, ecology and distribution of mollusks ofBuccinidae family (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters.Vestnik of MSTU, vol. 15, No 4, pp. 749-757.[8] Zimina, O. Yu., Frolova, E. A., Dikaeva, D. R., et al. (2017). Fauna and distribution ofabundance and biomass of zoobenthos in the northern Barents Sea in April and MayDOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 49BRDEM-20192016. Transections of the Kola Science. Oceanology, vol. 4, No. 2 (8), pp. 66-80.[9] Frolova, E. A., Dikaeva, D. R., Khacheturova, K. S. (2018). Polychaete complexessouthward and south-east of the Spitsbergen Archipelago based on the results ofthe expedition in 2015. Herald of the Kola Science Centre of RAS, No. 3 (10), pp.68-77.[10] Olsgard, F., Brattegard, T., Holthe, T. (2003). Polychaetes as surrogates for marinebiodiversity: lower taxonomic resolution and indicator groups. Biodiversity andConservation, vol. 12, pp. 1033-1049.[11] Zhirkov, I. A. (2001). Polychaeta of the Arctic Ocean. Moscow, Janus-K.[12] Bray, J. R., Curtis, J. T. (1957). An ordination of the Southern Wisconsin upland forest.Ecol. Monogr, vol. 27, pp. 325-349.[13] Denisenko, N. V., Denisenko, S. G., Frolov, A. A. (2006). Zoobenthos of the gorlo andvoronka straights of theWhite Sea: structure and distribution patterns in coastal areasof the Kola Peninsula. Marine invertebrates of Arctic, Antarctic and Subantarctic.Explorations of the Fauna of the Sea, vol. 56 (64), pp. 15--34.[14] Matishov, G. G., Mityaev, M. V., Khasankaev, V. B., et al. (2002). Regions of recentsedimentary material accumulation in the Medvezhii Trench, Barents Sea. Reportsof the Academy of Sciences, vol. 384, No 6, pp. 818-820.[15] Mityaev, M. V., Khasankaev, V. E., Golubev, V. A. (2007). Barents Sea trenches --modern canals of transportation or traps of the sedimental material? Arctic andAntarctic, vol. 5 (39), pp. 72-79.DOI 10.18502/kls.v5i1.6019 Page 50

Distribution of Polychaeta Communities in the Western and Northern Part of the Barents Sea

Dikaeva, D. (Dinara)

Frolova, E. (Elena)

Neliti

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Distribution of Polychaeta Communities in the Western and Northern Part of the Barents Sea

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