Composition and distribution of meiobenthos in Arctic Kongsfjord (Svalbard) with reference to carbon potential of selected fauna

Abstract

The meiobenthic samples collected as a part of Summer Phase III group 2 – Indian Arctic Expedition 2011, forms the basis of this study. There were some vital observations regarding the sediment characteristics that, inner and outer fjords were similar in terms of granulomertic composition and also the silt dominated in the entire Kongsfjord. Total carbon (TC) and total organic carbon (TOC) were higher in the outer fjord, but the inorganic carbon (IC) was slightly lower in the inner fjord. The meiofauna comprised of Nematoda, Foraminifera, Bivalvia, Polychaeta, Harpacticoid copepoda, Gastrotricha, and Kinoryncha. Nematodes (54%) formed the dominant phylum among the fauna followed by foraminifera (37%). Forty five nematodes belonging to nineteen families were identified, in which <em>Anticoma eberthi</em> (14.06 µg) contributed the highest carbon, followed by <em>Marylynnia complexa </em> (12.94 µg) in the Arctic Kongsfjord. Fifty six species of foraminiferans belonging to five sub orders were identified of which, <em>Cribrostomoides jeffreysii </em> (0.074 µg) and <em>Globobulimina auriculata </em> (0.071 µg) structured the maximum carbon content. Total carbon sequestered in the Kongsfjord accounted to an average of nematodes and foraminiferans respectively. The net carbon sequestrated by the nematodes and foraminiferans were higher in the outer fjord as compared to inner fjord of Kongsfjord region.