Demersal fish and decapod crustacean fauna of the upper continental slope off Nova Scotia from LaHave to St. Pierre Banks

Abstract

Four 200-m depth strata were sampled for fish and decapod crustaceans on the upper continental slope (400–1200 m) off Nova Scotia. There was more-or-less continuous replacement of fish fauna with depth. Numerically dominant fishes in the upper two strata (< 800 m) were Sebastes spp., Phycis chesteri, and Glyptocephalus cynoglossus. Predominant fishes in the lower two strata (> 800 m) were Centroscyllium fabricii, Synaphobranchus kaupii, and Coryphaenoides rupestris. Nezumia bairdii was relatively abundant throughout the depth range sampled. The ichthyofauna of the upper slope was similar to that off the Middle Atlantic States and off Newfoundland at comparable depths, but qualitative differences existed in losses of some and additions of other species. Dominant decapod crustaceans in the shallowest stratum (200–400 m) were Pontophilus norvegicus, Plesiopenaeus edwardsianus, and Panalus propinquus. This stratum appeared to be a transition zone between shelf and slope decapod faunas. More species occurred and at higher densities in the deeper strata; predominant were Acanthephyra spp., Pasiphaea tarda, Metacrangon jacqueti, and Sabinea hystrix. The decapod fauna off Nova Scotia is similar to that of the mid-Atlantic Bight but less diverse.