Cephalopods sampled near Azores-Biscay rise and along the mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores by the FRV Walther Herwig II in 1982

Abstract

ABSTRACT In June 1982 F.R.V. Walther Herwig II (WH-II) cruise 52, leg 2, investigated the bathy- and benthopelagic fish fauna along the Azores Biscay Rise and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) north of the Azores. In total 678 decapod cephalopods were collected as bycatch and identified belonging to about 33 species in 17 families. The five most abundant families were Histioteuthidae, Cranchiidae, Mastigoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, and Chiroteuthidae. A comparison with the cephalopod species captured on a cruise of R.V. G.O. SARS (G.O. SARS) to the North Atlantic between 60°-41°N in June-July 2004 and their distribution patterns and biodiversity have been done. The use of different types of trawls applied on G.O. SARS and WH-II 52(2) regarding selection, species composition and biogeography are discussed. Locations with high species abundance and diversity were observed on WH-II 52(2) along the mid-Atlantic Ridge at about 50°-43°N.