Distribution of the sand-ascidian Seriocarpa rhizoides in surface sediments of Josephine-Bank, North Atlantic (Table 4)

Seriocarpa rhizoides Diehl 1969 was collected in abundance from the calcareous sand of the Josephine Bank (between Portugal and Madeira) during the "Meteor" seamount cruises in 1967. Attachment in this loose soft substratum is effected by fine anchoring strands of the tests. Two irregular series of small polycarp-like hermaphrodite bodies which are embedded in a connective tissue lie directly below the endostyle, forming a tubular compound gonad, but without common ducts. The intermediate nature of the reproductive system with respect to arrangement and structure increases our knowledge about the polygenetic relations of the stylid-genera. Some of the hitherto known ecological facts point to the presumed "seamounts effect" on this species.

Distribution of halacarid species in sediment surface samples of Josephine Bank and Great Meteor Bank, Northeast Atlantic (Table 4)

In 22 samples, 6 from Josephine Bank and 16 from the Great Meteor Bank, 14 halacarid species were found and described. Halacarus spiniger n. sp., Copidognathus magniporus n. sp., Arhodeoporus lineatus n. sp., A. brevocularis n. sp., Coloboceras karamani n. sp., Scaptognathus minutus n. sp., and Atelopsalis newelli were hithero unknown. Acaromantis squilla Trouessart & Neumann and Atelopsalis tricuspis Trouessart were redescribed. Four larvae, probably belonging to Copidognathus longips Bartsch, C. tricorneata (Lohmann), Lohmannella falcata (Hodge), and Atelopsalis newelli n. sp. were described, two Scaptognathus larvae could not be identifird. To date only three species, Copidognathus tricorneata, Lohmannella falcata, and Scaptognathus minutus, have been found on both seamounts.

The near-bottom plankton and benthic invertebrate fauna of Josephine and Great Meteor Seamounts (Table 2)

15 samples obtained with Beyer's epibenthic closing net were studied quantitatively. The numbers of epi- and endobenthic animals were found to be correlated with the volume of sediment in the samples. Among the planktonic components, calanoid copepodes were strongly predominant. In the samples obtained on the Great Meteor Seamount, very much larger numbers of these animals were caught in the daytime than at night. Possible explanations for this difference are suggested.