SPECIES COMPOSITION AND PECULIARITIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC PERACARIDA (CRUSTACEA, MALACOSTRACA) IN THE BARENTS SEA, BASED ON THE INVESTIGATIONS IN 2003-2008

The species composition of Peracarida in the Barents Sea is determined, based on material of benthic investigations in 2003-2008. A total of 323 species are identified. 64 peracarid species are new to the Barents Sea fauna, mainly Isopoda, Cumacea and Tanaidacea. The main features of the quantitative distribution of Peracarida are revealed. The most abundant populations are shown to be formed on mixed sandy-silt grounds of the shallows and on the slopes of troughs. In the investigated area, 8 faunistic complexes associated with certain environmental conditions are detected. The biogeographical structure is dominated by Boreal-Arctic species. Boreal species account for 28% of the fauna, while Arctic species for another 21%. The overlap area of Boreal and Arctic species distributions has moved to the east and north compared to the period of 1968-1970, this being the result of an ongoing warming of the Barents Sea.