BIOMASS OF BATHYAL MACROBENTHOS IN THE REGION OF THE SUBTROPICAL CONVERGENCE, CHATHAM RISE, NEW-ZEALAND

Biomass estimates of macrobenthic infauna were determined at 23 anchor-box dredge stations positioned along three transects across the Chatham Rise, New Zealand, at water depths of 244-1394 m. Biomass ranged from 2.6 to 110.7 g wet preserved weight m-2. On the north side of the Rise biomass showed a logarithmic decline with water depth comparable to other bathyal regions, but estimates for the south side showed no such relationship and were higher than expected. It is suggested that high estimates on the south side are related to enhanced primary productivity at the Subtropical Convergence, which overlies the Chatham Rise.