Organic loading and eutrophy is indicated at profundal depths by large numbers of resting copepodid stages of cyclopoid copepods, by the occurrence of the naidid oligochaete species, Amphichaeta leydigii and Specariajosinae, and the harpacticoid species Canthocamptus staphylinus, and by a low meiobenthos/ macrobenthos biomass ratio. An oligotrophic environment is indicated by the occurrence of the aeolo-somatid oligochaetes Aeolosoma quaternarium, A. hemprichi and Rheomorpha neiswestnovae, the naidid oligochaete Chaetogaster langi and the harpacticoid species Attheyella crassa and a high meiobenthos/ macrobenthos biomass ratio.