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The macro- and micro-scale patchiness of meiobenthos associated with the Darwin Mounds (north-east Atlantic)

The macro- and micro-scale patchiness of meiobenthos associated with the Darwin Mounds (north-east Atlantic)
The macro- and micro-scale patchiness of meiobenthos associated with the Darwin Mounds (north-east Atlantic)
Meiobenthic community structure was investigated at different spatial scales (from 100 metres to centimetres) on and adjacent to a group of coral-topped sandy mounds in the bathyal north-east Atlantic (Darwin Mounds, Rockall Trough) and related to the environmental conditions in the area, mainly differences in sediment organic carbon content and presence of biogenic structures. Meiobenthos abundances were similar to those observed in other deep-sea sites, with nematodes representing at least 94% of the total community. The dominant nematode genera were Microlaimus, followed by Sabatieria, Richtersia, Rhynchonema and Trefusia, together with typical deep-sea genera (e.g. Halalaimus and Acantholaimus). Multivariate analysis of nematode generic relative abundances at the different stations indicated that there was no significant influence on distribution resulting from large scale topographic and biogeochemical conditions around the mounds. The same genera were associated with dead tests of the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima and in the surrounding sediments. The vertical distribution of nematodes on and adjacent to the mound showed some unusual features, as the deeper layers of the sediments were inhabited by stilbonematids. These genera harbour ectosymbiotic, chemoautotrophic bacteria and have not previously been recorded from the deep sea. The occurrence of stilbonematids in notable numbers in the subsurface layers of the sediments in the vicinity of the Darwin Mounds provides evidence for the occurrence of anoxic microenvironments.
0025-3154
547-556
Van Gaever, S.
c44d6748-5eb6-4670-a39b-61921f5b57f3
Vanreusel, A.
086a3d54-88cb-4152-b33a-a0c710b2cd3b
Hughes, J.A.
285bf26c-3175-4373-8cfa-449f38b4db30
Bett, B.J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Kiriakoulakis, K.
d9834ec4-e9a3-4dd3-8226-fe1da2514471
Van Gaever, S.
c44d6748-5eb6-4670-a39b-61921f5b57f3
Vanreusel, A.
086a3d54-88cb-4152-b33a-a0c710b2cd3b
Hughes, J.A.
285bf26c-3175-4373-8cfa-449f38b4db30
Bett, B.J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Kiriakoulakis, K.
d9834ec4-e9a3-4dd3-8226-fe1da2514471

Van Gaever, S., Vanreusel, A., Hughes, J.A., Bett, B.J. and Kiriakoulakis, K. (2004) The macro- and micro-scale patchiness of meiobenthos associated with the Darwin Mounds (north-east Atlantic). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 84 (3), 547-556.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Meiobenthic community structure was investigated at different spatial scales (from 100 metres to centimetres) on and adjacent to a group of coral-topped sandy mounds in the bathyal north-east Atlantic (Darwin Mounds, Rockall Trough) and related to the environmental conditions in the area, mainly differences in sediment organic carbon content and presence of biogenic structures. Meiobenthos abundances were similar to those observed in other deep-sea sites, with nematodes representing at least 94% of the total community. The dominant nematode genera were Microlaimus, followed by Sabatieria, Richtersia, Rhynchonema and Trefusia, together with typical deep-sea genera (e.g. Halalaimus and Acantholaimus). Multivariate analysis of nematode generic relative abundances at the different stations indicated that there was no significant influence on distribution resulting from large scale topographic and biogeochemical conditions around the mounds. The same genera were associated with dead tests of the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima and in the surrounding sediments. The vertical distribution of nematodes on and adjacent to the mound showed some unusual features, as the deeper layers of the sediments were inhabited by stilbonematids. These genera harbour ectosymbiotic, chemoautotrophic bacteria and have not previously been recorded from the deep sea. The occurrence of stilbonematids in notable numbers in the subsurface layers of the sediments in the vicinity of the Darwin Mounds provides evidence for the occurrence of anoxic microenvironments.

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More information

Published date: 2004
Additional Information: URL for article not available 26/10/04

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 11107
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/11107
ISSN: 0025-3154
PURE UUID: d1a1a081-f496-46cc-9aef-5c8fc603851b

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 Oct 2004
Last modified: 07 Jan 2022 21:59

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Contributors

Author: S. Van Gaever
Author: A. Vanreusel
Author: J.A. Hughes
Author: B.J. Bett
Author: K. Kiriakoulakis

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