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Deep-sea benthos of the Reykjanes Ridge: biogeographic analysis of the fauna living below 1000 m. Report on preliminary phase of the project Patterns and processes of the ecosystems of the northern Mid-Atlantic (MAR-ECO) Alexander Mironov, Andrey Gebruk Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences Contents. Introduction I. Database on the composition and distribution of deep-sea fauna (1000m) along the Reykjanes Ridge. II. Compilation of the annotated bibliography on the biogeography of the north Atlantic. 1. Biogeographic boundaries. 1.1. Definitions and methods. 1.2. Vertical zonation. 1.3. Boundaries of the Eastern Atlantic Boreal Region, including the southern shelf of Iceland. 1.4. Boundaries of the bathyal and abyssal provinces of the northern Atlantic. 2. Biogeographical structure of the Reykjanes deep-sea fauna. 3. Biogeographical history of some deep-sea taxa . Introduction The Reykjanes Ridge is a 800 km segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge extending from Iceland southward to the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone, at 52(30 N. The ridge axis shows a depth gradient from 0 m at 63(N, the southern Icelandic coast, to about 3000 m. The deeper southern part of the Reykjanes Ridge is swept by Upper North Atlantic Deep Water (potential temperature 2( to 4(C) and the shallower northern end is bathed in warmer Sub-Polar Mode Water (potential temperature 4( to 7(C) (McCartney, 1992; Copley et al., 1996). A high temperature hydrotermal activity has been detected at 63(06 N - the Steinaholl vent-field (Olaffson et al., 1991; German et al., 1994). The Reykjanes Ridge, including the southern shelf of Iceland, represents a great interest for biogeographers. Benthic fauna of this area was a subject of sharp climatic, geomorphological and hydrological changes in Pliocene and Pleistocene. As a result, the area was invaded by species from very remote regions: north Pacific and s