Table 2. Characteristics of megafaunal communities at different depths.
The depths are arranged up the slope in line with the ROV dives.
| Depth range (m) | Dominant species on soft and/or hard substrate | Soft substrate (%) | Common species on soft substrate | Common species on hard substrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,277–4,278 | Kolga kamchatica | 100% | Echiura gen.sp., Munidopsis spp., Zygothuria sp.1, Psychropotes “raripes ”, Astrocles actinodetus, Enteropneusta gen. sp.1 | Demospongiae varia, Hyalonema sp., Crinoidea (unstalked) |
| 3,610–3,450 | Scotoplanes kurilensis | 90 | Holascus sp., Ceriantharia varia, Umbellula sp., Pennatula sp., Munidopsis spp., Kolga kamchatica, Zygothuria sp. 1, Cucumariidae gen sp., Astrocles actinodetus, Enteropneusta gen. sp.1 | Demospongiae varia, Stylaster spp., Crinoidea (stalked and unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 3,030–2,910 | Ophiura bathybia, Scotoplanes kurilensis | 90 | Ceriantharia varia, Paelopatides solea | Demospongiae varia, Stylaster spp., Brachiopoda varia, Crinoidea (stalked and unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 2,910–2,790 | Scotoplanes kurilensis, Ophiura bathybia, Crangonidae gen. sp. | 80 | Ceriantharia varia, Paelopatides solea | Demospongiae varia, Rossellidae varia, Stylaster spp., Alcyonacea varia, Ophiocantha spp., Crinoidea (stalked and unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 2,790–2,650 | Crangonidae gen. sp. | 80 | Paelopatides solea, Ophiura bathybia | Demospongiae varia, Ophiocantha spp., Crinoidea (stalked and unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 2,650–2,470 | Paelopatides solea, Crangonidae gen. sp. | 80 | Rhopalonematidae gen. sp. | Demospongiae varia, Alcyonacea varia, Astrochele laevis, Crinoidea (stalked and unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 2,470–2,290 | Paelopatides solea, Crangonidae gen. sp., Rhopalonematidae gen. sp. | 70 | Torquaratoridae gen. sp., Pannychia aff. moseleyi | Demospongiae varia, Alcyonacea varia, Brachiopoda varia, Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Crinoidea (unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 2,290–2,130 | Rhopalonematidae gen. sp., Torquaratoridae gen. sp. | 60 | Paelopatides solea, Pannychia aff. moseleyi, Crangonidae gen. sp. | Demospongiae varia, Rossellidae varia, Alcyonacea varia, Brachiopoda varia, Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Crinoidea (unstalked), Torquaratoridae gen. sp., Ascidia varia |
| 2,130–1,830 | Torquaratoridae gen. sp. | 50 | Pannychia aff. moseleyi, Synallactes chuni, Ophiura spp., Ophiocantha spp., Rhopalonematidae gen. sp. | Demospongiae varia, Hexactinellida varia, Alcyonacea varia, Brachiopoda varia, Synallactes chuni, Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Crinoidea (unstalked), Torquaratoridae gen. sp., Ascidia varia |
| 1,830–1,750 | Synallactes chuni, Ophiura spp., Ophiocantha spp. | 40 | Torquaratoridae gen. sp., Ceriantharia varia | Demospongiae varia, Farrea spp., Stylaster spp., Brachiopoda varia, Synallactes chuni, Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Crinoidea (unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 1,750–1,370 | Ophiura spp., Ophiocantha spp., Synallactes chuni, Farrea spp. | 30 (stones and dead Farrea) | Torquaratoridae gen. sp., Pannychia aff. moseleyi | Demospongiae varia, Rossellidae varia, Stylaster spp., Paragorgia sp. 1, Munidopsis spp., Galatheidae gen. spp., Lithodidae gen. spp., Brachiopoda varia, Ophiophthalmus sp., Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Pteraster sp. 2, Goniasteridae gen.sp.2, Hydrasterias sp., Crinoidea (unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 1,370–720 | Farrea spp., Ophiura spp., Ophiocantha spp. | 10 (stones and dead Farrea) | Ophiura spp., Ophiocantha spp. | Demospongiae varia, Rossellidae varia, Heterochone sp., Heteropolypus ritteri, Paragorgia sp. 1, Munidopsis spp., Galatheidae gen. spp., Lithodidae gen. spp., Psolus spp., Ophiura spp., Ophiacantha spp., Ophiophthalmus sp., Goniasteridae gen. sp. 2 and sp.3, Crinoidea (unstalked), Ascidia varia |
| 720–440 | Heteropolypus ritteri | 0 | – | Demospongiae varia, Farrea spp., Pinulasma fistulosum, Rossellidae varia , Tritonia cf. diomedea, Galatheidae gen. spp., Lithodidae gen. spp., Psolus spp., Goniasteridae gen. sp.2 |
| 440–390 | Heteropolypus ritteri, Corallimorphus pilatus | 0 | – | Demospongiae varia, Caryophylliidae gen. sp. 1, Corallimorphidae gen. sp., Polyplacophora varia, Tritonia cf. diomedea, Terebratulina cf. kiiensis, Goniasteridae gen. sp.2., Solaster sp. |
| 390–350 | Epizoanthus sp. | 0 | – | Demospongiae varia, Actinothoe sp.,Caryophylliidae gen. sp. 1, Corallimorphidae gen. sp., Heteropolypus ritteri, Polyplacophora varia, Terebratulina cf. kiiensis, Ophiopholis cf. japonica, Goniasteridae gen. sp. 2 and sp.3, Pteraster sp. 2, Crossaster papposus |