The Atlantic walrus, Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, forms a herd of nearly 4,000 heads in the Pechora Sea (south‐eastern Barents Sea). The Near Threatened status of O. rosmarus rosmarus and the relative isolation of the Pechora Sea population, as well as the potential impacts of human activities in the area, make it important to characterize key habitats, including feeding grounds, in order to protect the species. The aim of the present study was to integrate multiple sources of environmental and biological data collected by satellite telemetry, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and benthic grab sampling to examine the distribution and diversity of benthic foraging resources used by walrus in the Pechora Sea. Analysis of satellite telemetry data from seven males tagged on Vaigach Island helped to identify areas of high use by walruses near haulout sites on Matveev and Vaigach islands, and in between. Field data were collected from those feeding grounds in July 2016 using ROV video recordings and bottom grab sampling. Analysis of 19 grab stations revealed a heterogeneous macrobenthic community of 133 taxa with a mean biomass of 147.11 ± 7.35 g/m2. Bivalve molluscs, particularly Astarte borealis, Astarte montagui, and Ciliatocardium ciliatum, dominated the overall macrobenthic biomass, making up two‐thirds of the total. Analysis of 16 ROV video transects showed high occurrences of mobile benthic decapods (3.03 ± 2.74 ind./min) and provided the first direct evidence that areas actively used by walrus in the Pechora Sea overlap with the distribution of the non‐native omnivorous snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio. Integrating multiple data sources provides an early foundation for the kinds of ecosystem‐based approaches needed to improve Pechora Sea resource management and to underpin Russia’s nascent marine spatial planning initiatives. Factors that need to be considered in marine spatial planning include impacts on benthic feeding grounds from offshore oil and gas development and the spread of the snow crab.

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Many marine annelids are active tube builders. Several polychaete families make agglutinated tubes by fixing sediment particles with specific secretions from their epithelial glands. The fine structure of the tubes of six species of Maldanidae from five genera (Nicomache minor, N. lumbricalis, Maldane sarsi, Praxillella praetermissa, Axiothella catenata, Rhodine gracilior) was examined by scanning electron microscopy. These species exhibit different lifestyles. Nicomache minor and N. lumbricalis inhabit massive hard tubes attached to stones. Other species live in the sediment, Rhodine in rigid organic tubes, Praxillella, Axiothella and Maldane in sand or mud tubes. All the examined maldanid tubes have a similar basic structure. The inner sheath of the tubes is made of a hardened organic lining secreted by the worm. Fibres from the inner sheath fasten sediment particles of the agglutinated layer. In Nicomache the tube surface is covered with a fibrous outer layer. All tube layers contain variously arranged organic fibres, which form a 3D network in the agglutinated layer and fabric-like linings in the inner sheath and outer layer. The tubes of Maldanidae may be important for taxonomy, and useful for identification of fossils.

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