Novel method to concurrently sample the planktobenthos and benthos

The planktobenthos is an important area with unique environmental conditions and represents the immediate link between the benthos and the water column. Despite its close links with the seafloor, the planktobenthos has never been deliberately sampled concurrently with the benthos. We have developed a new method for planktobenthic sampling which allows concurrent collection of benthic and suprabenthic specimens. The Mounted Assembly for Planktobenthic Sampling (MAPS) uses a novel tri-layered net with a seafloor-triggered opening and closing mechanism attached to an epibenthic sled. The MAPS was deployed on the Carnarvon Shelf in Western Australia and was successful at separately sampling both benthic and planktobenthic fauna. A wide variety of epibenthic and infaunal animals were collected from the sled while planktobenthic animals such as mysids were identified from all three nets. The tri-layered net was particularly effective at collecting a broad range of planktobenthic organisms, including smaller fragile larvae and adults which may have otherwise been destroyed during collection in a single net. The number of species in planktobenthic and benthic samples was correlated, although the strength and significance of this relationship varied among taxonomic groups. Importantly, the MAPS can be modified for use on a wide variety of benthic sleds to target a range of organisms. The concurrent collection of planktobenthic and benthic biota will contribute to a range of research areas, including larval ecology, nutrient cycling, biogeography and surrogacy research.