Polychaete Distribution on the Chatham Rise, Southwest Pacific

Abstract

Abstract Macrobenthic samples Were collected along 3 north‐south transects at 244‐1394 m depth across the Chatham Rise, eastern New Zealand, to examine the distribution of polychaete assemblages in the region of the Subtropical Convergence (STC). Two main assemblages were identified: at 244‐663 m depth occurring mainly on the crest of the Rise, and at 802‐1394 m on the slopes of the Rise. Community composition differed., however, between the northern and southern slopes of the Rise. The southern slope supported higher faunal densities and a greater proportion of surface deposit feeders. This latitudinal difference may reflect variability in organic flux across the STC.