As part of the multidisciplinary study at the Hausgarten site, coordinated by AWI, the impact of changes in food supply, in addition to other environmental variables, on the smallest sized bottom fauna, the meiobenthos, is studied along a bathymetric transect from Vestnesa Ridge up to Molloy Deep, over a time period of 5 years. Since this transect is running parallel to the retreating Ice Margin it is expected that this area will be impacted by changing ice conditions. Emphasis is on the two most abundant meiobenthic taxa in the Arctic deep sea, nematodes and copepods which will be identified up to species level. These taxa are not only numerous but also diverse and therefore ideal model organisms to study benthic ecosystem processes. Sampling was performed with the German ice breaker R/V Polarstern during the expeditions Ark-XVI till Ark-XX in summer of 2000 till 2004. Sediment samples were taken with a multi corer (MUC) to avoid disturbance of the surface sediments. A grant from the Flemish Institute for the Advancement of Scientific-Technological Research in Industry (IWT) finances this research. Promoter is Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel and co-promoters are Dr. Sandra Vanhove and Dr. Thomas Soltwedel.