Deep-sea benthic Ostracoda (Crustacea) in Icelandic waters are poorly known. Here we report deep-sea ostracode assemblages from the multiple core (MUC) and the epibenthic sledge (EBS) samples collected from Icelandic waters by the first cruise of the IceAGE (Icelandic Marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology) project. Samples from shelf-edge and lower-bathyal working areas are examined. The results show (1) distinct MUC and EBS faunas due to the large difference in mesh size of MUC and EBS; and (2) distinct shelf-edge and lower-bathyal ostracode faunas. Such remarkable faunal turnover from shelf to bathyal depths is similar to the faunal turnovers reported from depth transects in the adjacent regions of the western North Atlantic Ocean, the Greenland Sea, and the North Sea, but, at the same time, there are certain differences in the faunal composition between the Icelandic waters and these adjacent regions. In addition, we illustrate many Icelandic deep-sea ostracode species with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and composite all-in-focus stereomicroscopic images for the first time. These results provide important basic information on deep-sea ostracode research and biogeography of this important region connecting North Atlantic proper and Nordic Seas.
High-resolution Fig. 3
Fig. 3 Scanning electron microscopy (1, 3, 5) and composite stereomicroscope (2, 4, 6) images of ostracode species from the MUC sample. 1–2, Argilloecia acuminata Müller, 1894, 1004 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. 3–4, Argilloecia cf. conoidea Sars, 1923, 1004 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. 5–6, Parakrithe sp., 1004 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult male RV. Scale bar represents 1 mm. All lateral views. LV: left valve. RV: right valve.
Yasuhara_Fig3.pdf
High-resolution Fig. 4
Fig. 4 Scanning electron microscopy (1, 3, 5, 7) and composite stereomicroscope (2, 4, 6, 8) images of ostracode species from the MUC samples. 1–4, Krithe ayressi Coles, Whatley and Moguilevsky, 1994. 1–2, 959 MUC, 0.0–1.0 cm depth, adult male? LV. 3–4, 1004 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult female? RV. 5–6, Krithe dolichodeira van den Bold, 1946, 959 MUC, 0.0–1.0 cm depth, adult female LV. 7–8, Krithe minima Coles, Whatley and Moguilevsky, 1994, 1004 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult female RV. Scale bar represents 1 mm. All lateral views.
Yasuhara_Fig4.pdf
High-resolution Fig. 5
Fig. 5 Scanning electron microscopy (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and composite stereomicroscope (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) images of ostracode species from the MUC samples. 1–2, Pseudocythere caudata Sars, 1866, 1115 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult female? LV. 3–4, Eucythere sp., 1035 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult RV. 5–6, Eucytherura delineata Whatley and Eynon, 1996, 1127 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult Male LV. 7–8, Muellerina abyssicola (Sars, 1866), 1127 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult female LV. 9–10, Thaerocythere crenulata (Sars, 1866), 1127 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult male? LV. Scale bars represent 1 mm. All lateral views.
Yasuhara_Fig5.pdf
High-resolution Fig. 6
Fig. 6 Scanning electron microscopy (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and composite stereomicroscope (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) images of ostracode species from the MUC samples. 1–2, Cytheropteron higashikawai Ishizaki, 1981, 1127 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. 3–4, Cytheropteron carolinae s.l. Whatley and Coles, 1987, 1115 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult RV. 5–6, Cytheropteron perlaria Hao, 1988, 1127 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult female? LV. 7–8, Cytheropteron sp., 1127 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. 9–10, Cytheropteron inflatum s.l. Brady, 1868, 1004 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. Scale bars represent 1 mm. All lateral views.
Yasuhara_Fig6.pdf
High-resolution Fig. 7
Fig. 7 Scanning electron microscopy (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) and composite stereomicroscope (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) images of ostracode species from the MUC samples. 1–2, Ambocythere sp., 959 MUC, 0.0–1.0 cm depth, adult female LV. 3–4, Buntonia textilis Bonaduce, Ciampo and Masoli, 1976, 1004 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult RV. 5–6, Echinocythereis echinata (Sars, 1866), 1004 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult RV. 7–8, Henryhowella asperrima (Reuss, 1850), 1175 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult Male LV. 9–10, Pennyella sp., 987 MUC, 0.5–1.0 cm depth, adult RV. 11–12, Pterygocythereis mucronata (Sars, 1866), 1035 MUC, 0.0–0.5 cm depth, adult LV. Scale bars represent 1 mm. All lateral views.
Yasuhara_Fig7.pdf
High-resolution Fig. 8
Fig. 8 Scanning electron microscopy images of ostracode species from the EBS samples. 1, Cytherella robusta s.l. Colalongo and Pasini, 1980, 963 EBS, supranet, adult female? RV. 2, Macrocypris sp., 1032 EBS, supranet, adult LV. 3, Bradleya mesembrina Mazzini, 2005, 963 EBS, supranet, adult female? LV. 4, Legitimocythere acanthoderma (Brady, 1880), 963 EBS, supranet, adult male? LV. Scale bars represent 1 mm. All lateral views.
Yasuhara_Fig8.pdf