| A continuous high-resolution time-series survey of the hyperbenthic community and local environmental conditions was conducted in the benthic boundary layer (BBL) of the DYFAMED-BENTHOS station (43 degrees 24.61'N, 7 degrees 51.67'E at 2347 in depth in the NW Mediterranean) between January 1996 and April 1998 using bottom-moored sediment traps and a current meter. Sediment traps were set 4 m above the bottom. Hyperbenthos was collected as 'swimmers', i.e. those organisms that are alive when they enter the traps but are not part of the particle flux. Identification of these organisms showed that similar to 90%, were meiobenthic, Copepods dominated and comprised on average 75%, of total swimmers. They were followed by nauplii (12%), annelids (7.8%),... |
