Table 2 Higher taxa reported to have been collected in light traps in the marine environment. Where available, the number of species identified is given. n/a = not available as only identified to phylum level. See Additional file 1: Tables S1 and S2 for detailed list of taxa

Annelida, Polychaeta

1

Zismann [94], Jones [46], Fincham [55], Sale et al. [88], Smith et al. [90], Tranter et al. [93], Kawaguchi et al. [33], Meekan et al. [36, 38], Carleton et al. [75], Granek and Frasier [32], Mwaluma et al. [40], Tor et al. [92]

Arthropoda

128

Zismann [94], Jones [46], Fincham [55], Smith et al. [90], Tranter et al. [93], Kawaguchi et al. [33], Holmes and Jeal [82], Song and Yun [91], Meekan et al. [36, 38], Carleton et al. [75], Hovda and Fosshagen [54], Roegner et al. [30], Granek and Frasier [32], Øresland [34], Herter and Eckert [81], Porter et al. [87], Mwaluma et al. [40], Michel et al. [43], Tor et al. [92], Chang [76], Kim et al. [85], Sigurdsson et al. [89], Costello et al. [41]

Chaetognatha

1

Jones [46], Fincham [55], Smith et al. [90], Tranter et al. [93], Carleton et al. [75], Granek and Frasier [32], Costello et al. [41]

Cnidaria

3 classes

Carleton et al. [75], Mwaluma et al. [40]

Chordata

320

Carleton et al. [75] and Additional file 1: Table S1

Ctenophora

1

Carleton et al. [75]

Echinodermata

n/a

Carleton et al. [75]

Hemichordata

n/a

Carleton et al. [75]

Mollusca

6

Zismann [94], Fincham [55], Thorrold [60], Carleton et al. [75], Jackson et al. [83], Mwaluma et al. [40], Tor et al. [92], Costello et al. [41]

Nematoda

n/a

Zismann [94], Costello et al. [41]

Phoronida

n/a

Carleton et al. [75]

Platyhelminthes

One class

Carleton et al. [75], Costello et al. [41]

Tunicata

1

Carleton et al. [75]