“New” Benthic Community Dominated by Oweniidae (Polyehaeta, Oweniidae) at the Murman Coast: Structure and Causes of Appearance

摘要

Data on the long-term changes in the structure of benthic communities of Arctic Seas are contradictory while some studies demonstrate them being quite stable [1], others reveal significant variations in their biomass, density, and species composition[2], Sometimes, replacement of dominant species occurs [2] that indicates significant changes in the community structure and functioning [3]. Different factors favor these changes. Among them, the main ones are eutrophication [4] and climate change [5],In the case of the Barents Sea, the red king crab is often considered to be the key reason for changes in the structure of local communities [6]. This crab was introduced to the Barents Sea in the 1960s and became extremely abundant in the late 1990s.