BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2016, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 407-418

Composition, structure and distribution of benthic ostracod fauna (Ostracoda: Myodocopida) in Antarctic waters

© 2016 V. G. Chavtur

A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041;
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok 690950

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The benthic fauna of ostracods of the order Myodocopida of Antarctic waters is characterized by high diversity, relative species abundance, complicated taxonomic and ecological structure, with a simplified biogeographical structure. This fauna distinguished by a high level of endemicity, though at a low taxonomic rank, includes a great share of deep-sea and subtidal elements. Ostracod populations of High and Low-Antarctic subzones differ qualitatively and quantitatively. A distinct impoverishment of fauna is observed in the region of the Antarctic divergence as compared to the more northern areas. The number of species increases with depth to reach its maximum in the lower subtidal zone and on the upper continental slope at depths of 200-500 m. The number of species reduces with increasing depth. Myodocopids have not been yet found in the Antarctic waters deeper than 5000 m.

Key words: Myodocopida, Cypridinidae, Philomedidae, Cylindroleberididae, Sarsiellidae, Antarctic, latitudinal and vertical distribution.