Ostracoda from Experimental Wood-Island Habitats in the Deep Sea

A unique association of podocopid ostracodes has been identified in samples from five artificial experimental stations in depths of 1800 to 4000 m. No resemblance exists between this fauna and that typically inhabiting bathyal and abyssal mud bottoms. Most close relatives of the wood-island assemblage reside in phytal or organic-rich habitats in the coastal zone, and some are parasitic or commensal. This obligate, submergent association of Paradoxostomatidae, Eucytherurinae and Cypridacea probably evolved from arrivals on driftwood and probably still depends on larger invertebrates for dispersal and nutrition. Fourteen species, 12 of which are new, and the new genus Xylocythere are described.