Deep-sea harpacticoid copepod diversity maintenance: The role of polychaetes

Several models to account for enhanced diversity in the deep sea have been proposed, but the available natural history information has been inadequate to distinguish among them. In particular, few data exist on patterns of co-occurrence among species. At 1220 m depth in the San Diego Trough (32°35.75N; 117°29.00W), harpacticoid copepod species covary significantly with polychaetes when the polychaetes are combined into functional groups on the basis of feeding type and mobility. In particular, harpacticoid species tend to avoid polychaetes which are sessile surface-deposit feeders. The results provide support for models in which disturbance/predation plays an important role in maintaining deep-sea diversity.Contribution No. 15 from Expedition Quagmire.