Large-scale patterns in community structure of benthos and fish in the Barents Sea

• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-1946-6
• Publication Date: 2016-04-22T22:50:50Z
• Authors: Edda Johannesen; Lis Lindal Jørgensen; Maria Fossheim; Raul Primicerio; Michael Greenacre; Pavel A. Ljubin; Andrey V. Dolgov; Randi B. Ingvaldsen; Natalya A. Anisimova; Igor E. Manushin
• Keywords: Benthos; Demersal fish; Demersal zone

Biogeographical patterns have an ecological basis, but few empirical studies possess the necessary scale and resolution relevant for investigation. The Barents Sea shelf provides ideal study area, as it is a transition area between Atlantic Arctic regions, sampled by comprehensive survey of all major functional groups. We studied spatial variation in species composition demersal fish benthos to elucidate how communities co-varied relation environmental variables. applied co-correspondence analysis on presence–absence data 64 fishes 302 taxa from 329 bottom trawl hauls taken at ecosystem August–September 2011. found highly significant similarities pattern distribution fishes, despite their differences motility other traits. first common ordination axis separated boreal south-west (Atlantic temperate water) north-east (Arctic cold water, ice-covered winter). second shallow bank deep basins trenches. Our results show that had similar relationship gradients hundreds thousands kilometres. further discussed fish–benthos interactions vary sub-regions based traits food web topology Sea. This forms basis investigations links