Macrobenthic biomass and production in a heterogenic subarctic fjord after invasion by the red king crab.

摘要: Abstract We studied the macrobenthic fauna and their production potential in Porsangerfjord, Northern Norway, relation to environmental gradients recent invasion by predatory red king crab into outer fjord. The study area is characterized a distinct along-fjord temperature gradient, with influence of warmer Atlantic water fjord year-round bottom temperatures around zero inner Benthic organisms can play crucial role ecosystem energy flow. Despite this, our knowledge factors regulating benthic secondary high latitude ecosystems limited. Macrobenthic abundance, biomass (B), (P) production-to-biomass ratio (P/B) were estimated from grab samples collected 2010. Annual P/B ratios calculated using multi-parameter artificial neural network (ANN) model Brey (2012). mean biomass, 4611 ind. m − 2 (95% CI = 3994, 5316), 65 g ww m CI = 51, 82), 174 kJ m  y − 1 CI = 151, 201) 1.02 y , respectively. dominated polychaetes. Spatial variability was mainly driven community structure differences habitat conditions. basins total (439 kJ m ), attributable standing stock structure, despite cold temperatures. In middle fjord, smaller taxa low individual body masses increased ratios, but they did not compensate for thereby resulting lower these areas. sparseness large may already be result predation invasive an overall regime.