Surface lebensspuren and their tracemakers in Arctic fjords of Spitsbergen: Patterns, diversity, and environmental controls

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of epibenthic lebensspuren, i.e., biogenic surface traces, and their tracemakers in the fjords of Svalbard. Data were collected over six Arctic summer seasons (2015–2017, 2019, 2020, and 2023) and one winter season (2016), across 206 stations, 57% of which exhibited lebensspuren. Nineteen distinct lebensspuren morphotypes were identified, including eight newly described forms. Tracemakers were identified for 18 of these types, and specific species or genera determined for 10. Echinoderms were the dominant group, responsible for 55% of all traces, followed by decapods (20%) and gastropods (17%). The study documents lebensspuren morphology and ethology along with their associated tracemakers, offering insights into their abundance and spatial distribution within fjord ecosystems. Notable findings include the high frequency of lebensspuren produced by the sea star Urasterias lincki, along with significant contributions from brittle stars, shrimps, and gastropods. Distribution patterns were influenced by environmental factors such as proximity to glaciers and river mouths; however, non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed no clear community separations. This dataset can serve as a valuable resource for the interpretation and classification of trace fossils (i.e., fossil analogues of lebensspuren), while highlighting the ecological and paleoenvironmental importance of lebensspuren in Arctic marine systems.