The Distributional Pattern of Benthic Invertebrates of the Continental Shelf off North Carolina

The benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of the continental shelf off North Carolina may be divided into three species assemblages, each occupying a given area and corresponding to three biogeographic provinces. North of Cape Hatteras, in a wedge having its narrow end near Diamond Shoals, the fauna and the environment correspond to the Virginian Province. South of Cape Hatteras, over roughly the inshore half of the continental shelf, the Carolinian Province is represented. Offshore from these two provinces, over the outer half of the shelf, lies the Tropical Province. Conclusions regarding these faunas and these provinces are based on dredging collections including 211 species representing 16 classes from 6 phyla. One—fourth of the total number of species are new distribution records for the coasts of North Carolina.