Distribution of polychaetes in the area of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the modern period

Based on the material collected during the expedition of the MMBI RAS in 2022 in the area of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago at depths 18–70 m, the species composition and quantitative characteristics of polychaetes were analyzed. Faunal complexes differing in structural characteristics and a set of dominant species were identified in the study area. The main factors determining the formation of complexes are the depth and characteristics of the ground. The coastal shallow waters of the Novaya Zemlya, covered with hard soils with a low content of organic matter, are characterized by low species diversity, low biomass and medium settlement density. The southern, deep-water slopes of the Novaya Zemlya, covered with soft silty-sandy soils, are characterized by high biomass and abundance, due to the development of the Spiochaetopterus typicus.