Amphipods in sediment traps of the eastern Fram Strait

In this context we analysed time-series data of meso- and bathypelagic amphipods collected as swimmers in moored sediment traps from 2004 to 2008 at the deep-sea long-term observatory HAUSGARTEN (79°N/4°E) in the eastern Fram Strait, Arctic Ocean.

Six mesopelagic and three bathypelagic deep-sea amphipod species regularly occurred in the traps. The lysianassoid C. guilelmi showed a stable interannual population size and seasonal peaks in its occurrence from August to February during the five-year sampling period. The investigation of its population structure and reproduction ecology indicated year-round breeding behavior of this species.