Dynamics of benthic communities in the Central Depression of the Barents Sea

Based on the data collected in five marine expeditions of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute from 2002 through 2007, the spatial and temporary variability of benthic communities in the Central Depression of the Barents Sea (licensed plot of the Shtokmanovskoe condensed gas deposit) has been analyzed. The range of quantitative characteristics and the variability of species composition of deep-water zoobenthos have been determined. The influence of an insignificant change in the collecting method on the obtained results has been examined.