Tardigrada, Doyere, 1840

Trokhymchuk, Roman & Kieneke, Alexander, 2025, Novel distribution records of marine Tardigrada from abyssal sediments of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Organisms Diversity & Evolution 25 (1), pp. 13-28 : 26

Tardigrada and MPAs

Since a number of 94 sediment cores for the analysis of the meiofauna were obtained during expedition SO286, there will obviously be more new findings regarding the deep sea Tardigrada of the North Atlantic Ocean. In particular, the puzzle concerning the aberrant specimen of Angursa cf. abyssalis of sample SO286-42-16—just a developmental aberration or a new taxon—could be solved if further similar specimens will be discovered. If that new form indeed represents a new species, it could have a geographically restricted distribution area partly overlapping with the new OSPAR-MPA NACES ( OSPAR Commission, 2020). Hence, this species could then serve as another argument supporting the plans to extend the protection status also to the deep-sea floor.