Size Structure of Deep‐Sea Meio‐ and Macrobenthos in the Western Pacific

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Abstract
The size structure of deep‐sea meio‐ and macrobenthos was studied using 12 USNEL box corer samples collected in the Western Pacific. Both macro‐ and meiobenthos decreased in abundance with increasing water depth, as expected, but contrary to previous findings, the rate of decrease did not differ significantly between the two size classes of organisms. The median size index of total meiobenthos decreased with increasing water depth, while when the vertical distribution of organisms in the sediment was considered, such a trend was restricted to the organisms found in the upper 1 cm layer. In contrast, the median size of the nematodes increased with increasing water depth, and a possible cause for this correlation is discussed.