Mesofauna inhabiting algae in the tidal zone of the Barents Sea

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

One of the most important problems in ecosystem functioning is the role of invertebrates, especially mesofauna, in mineralization and humification of organic matter. Although the role of mesofauna is well known in the case of the soil system, our knowledge of the role of mesofauna inhabiting algae is still scarce, especially in the polar and subpolar regions. The aim of this study was to determine communities of mesofauna inhabiting algae in the tidal zone and the rate of the algae colonization by mesofauna. Our study was conducted near the field station of Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, in the Barents Sea in four bays: Zelenetskaya, Plohiye Tschevry, Yarnyshnaya, and Medvezhia. The material was collected using frames of 100 cm2 in area. Samples were taken in zones of the “fresh” algae (FA), “old” algae (OA), and tundra (T). We also conducted an experiment in which we exposed “fresh”algae (FA) (100 cm2 ) to mesofauna on stones, “old” algae (OA), and tundra (T). Although we noticed variability in mesofauna densities in sampling plots in different bays, in general we did not find significant differences between mesofauna densities on “old” algae and tundra. Densities of Collembola and Acarina were significantly lower in the FA zone (Collembola p = 0.001; Acarina p = 0.0001). Colonization of exposed “fresh”algae was different in the tundra and in the tidal zone. In the tundra Collembola colonized algae faster than Acarina, but in the tidal zone it was slower.