Special Literature Analysis Study: Final Report on Benthic Communities in Certain Slope Areas of the South Atlantic Bight

摘要

A literature survey of benthic invertebrate studies conducted in three slope areas off the southeastern United States has shown that bathymetric differences in species composition, density, and diversity are more pronounced than differences related to latitudinal or seasonal change. Bathymetric zonation is more evident in the two northern study areas than it is in the southern area, which spans a much narrower depth range. Generally, there appears to be an upper-slope and a lower-slope faunal assemblage, separated by a zone of transition characterized by little endemism and rapid faunal change with depth. Bottom currents probably control the density, diversity, and distribution of benthic organisms on the continental slope by influencing the dispersal of eggs and larvae, the distribution of organic detritus, and the disposition of sediments along depth contours parallel to the continental margin.