| Three major size classes of the benthic metazoan communities (megafauna, macrofauna and meiofauna) were investigated simultaneously at 3 sites in the tropical Northeast Atlantic. The sites varied in their level of surface primary productivity (eutrophic, mesotrophic and oligotrophic). Results for 3 cruises in 3 seasons (Eumeli 2, winter 1991; Eumeli 3, autumn 1991; Eumeli 4, spring 1992) are given for each size class in terms of taxonomic composition, density and biomass. The benthic communities did not exhibit evidence of seasonal variation, but there were substantial differences in the quantitative structure of the metazoan communities between the 3 sites. Total metazoan density and biomass, as well as density and biomass of each size class, decreased... |
