Meiofaunal Assemblage Pattern in Krossfjord, Svalbard Archipelago

Abstract: This study elaborates the preliminary information on the meiofaunal assemblage pattern in the Krossfjorden system of the Svalbard Archipelago based on the samples collected during the Summer Phase Indian Arctic Expeditions of 2017 and 2018. The results from the study divulged the meiofaunal assemblage pattern. It is diversified with the presence of ten meiofaunal groups represented by Foraminifera, Tintinnida, Nematoda, Polychaeta, Copepoda, Kinorhyncha, Tanaidacea, Ostracoda, Acarina and Priapulida larvae. Meiofaunal abundance was observed to be low during the year 2018 (5646 ± 874 ind./10 cm²) compared with previous reports from adjacent fjord systems and the samples collected during the 2017 study (8826 ± 1501 ind./10 cm²). The decrease in meiofaunal assemblage in the fjord is associated with changes in environmental constraints and organic matter availability. The diminishing sea ice habitats in the Arctic waters are expected to have pronounced impacts on meiofaunal communities and their appearances in the coming future. In this regard, data gathered during the present study will form a baseline information on meiofaunal communities in the Krossfjorden system for understanding future changes in the benthic habitat and have important implications on predicting the direction of change with regard to meiobenthic productivity.