| This study examined the benthic faunal distribution, associated sedimentary and oceanographic parameters and the influence of human activities in the subtidal environment of Turton Bay, Igloolik Island. Eighty-nine biological grab samples, 63 sediment samples, and 66 water samples were taken along 6 subtidal transects in the summers of 1999 and 2002. Sediments exhibited a weak trend of fining grain size with increased depth, while oceanographic conditions along the subtidal transects showed little variability due to the shallow nature of Turton Bay (<25 m depth).; Polychaetes dominate the samples in both abundance and diversity followed by molluscs and echinoderms. Transects towards the head of Turton Bay had similar richness and abundances of faunal species as well as benthic faunal distributions. The Edge of Town transect had notable higher abundances of the bivalve, Macoma calcarea and the brittlestar, Ophiura albida compared to other Turton Bay transects. The Mouth transect had unique species due to the rocky terrain and proximity to the open ocean. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
