Study of biological processes on the US South Atlantic slope and rise. Phase 2. Volume 2. Final report. Report for November 1985-March 1987

A total of 16 stations were sampled during a 2-year field program designed to characterize the biological, chemical, and sedimentary processes on the slope and rise off North and South Carolina. Box cores were taken along 4 transects at depths of 600-3500 m. The infauna yielded a total of 1202 species, 520 of which were new to science. Annelids were the dominant taxa in terms of density and numbers of species. Species diversity was highest at an 800 m site off Charleston. Infaunal densities were highest on the upper slope (600 m) and lowest on the rise (3000 m). Data generated in the infaunal and epifaunal surveys supported the view that a partial zoogeographic barrier exists on the slope off North Carolina.