The shallow water benthic fauna was collected in Kongsfjord, West Spitsbergen.Sampling was conducted along two main environmental gradients: vertical gradient (depth5-50 m) and horizontal gradient (sedimentation regime) along the fjord axis. A small rectangular dredge was used. Altogether 169 taxa were identified and four macrofaunal associations were distinguished. Bottom type and distance from the tidal glaciers seem to be themain factors responsible for species distribution. The Soft Bottom I Association occupyingthe fine mud of the Kongsbreen glacial bay consisted mostly of Crustacea with high dominance of scavenging amphipod Onisimus caricus. Bivalves prevailed in the Soft Bottom IIAssociation, located further away from the main glacier outflows. The barren rocky shelf,deprived of vegetation by a sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis was inhabited bythe Rocky Shelf Association dominated by decapods. The last distinguished association(the Kelp Association) occurred on the hard bottom overgrown with macroalgae. Thegastropod Margarites helicinus and amphipods Ischyrocerus spp. made up 60% of theindividuals collected there.
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