Benthic polychaetes off Edward VIII Plateau in the continental shelf of East Antarctica

Abstract

Samples of marine benthos were collected from three stations (200-300 m depth) off the Edward VIII Plateau (Enderby Land, East Antarctica) during the Third Indian Expedition to the Southern Ocean (2009). Dominant taxonomic groups collected were the polychaetes (165 individuals), nematodes (71) and crustaceans (83), along with echinoderms (19), bivalve molluscs (18), mast pycnogonids (4) and bryozoans. Among the polychaetes, 53 species could be identified. Syllids were represented by the most number of individuals (18.5%), followed by the paraonids (13.1%), spionids (12.5%) and cirratulids (11.9%). Most abundant species collected were <i>Brania </i>sp. (Syllidae) and <i>Laonice weddellia </i>(Spionidae). The polychaete species represented in the samples are listed.