The project is focusing on the taxonomy of the stenothoid genus Metopa, a genus that is particularly species-rich in the NE Atlantic and the Arctic. The first part of the project will be a traditional taxonomical revision of the genus, first of all entailing redescriptions of the many poorly known Metopa species. In addition, collection of data on habitat, biology and diet and whenever possible also o n life cycle will be important. Finally, the revision of the genus will involve the completion of interactive keys and a phylogenetic analysis of the relationships among the Metopa species. As enough material suitable for molecular work most probably will not be available, only morphological characters will be utilized. The second part of the project will focus entirely on the position of the genus within the family Stenothoidae, and will consist of a phylogenetic analysis based on molecular (DNA sequences) data. Representative species of the various genera will be colle cted both in N. Norway and on Svalbard, but also through other large-scale sampling programs such as the Antarctic German program ANDEEP. This application is related to that of Dr Berge (UNIS) on the functional morphology of the Onisimus mandible.