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Distribution and spatial variation of hydrothermal faunal assemblages at Lucky Strike (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) revealed by high-resolution video image analysis

Distribution and spatial variation of hydrothermal faunal assemblages at Lucky Strike (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) revealed by high-resolution video image analysis
Distribution and spatial variation of hydrothermal faunal assemblages at Lucky Strike (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) revealed by high-resolution video image analysis
Whilst the fauna inhabiting hydrothermal vent structures in the Atlantic Ocean is reasonably well known, less is understood about the spatial distributions of the fauna in relation to abiotic and biotic factors. In this study, a major active hydrothermal edifice (Eiffel Tower, at 1690 m depth) on the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR)) was investigated. Video transects were carried out by ROV Victor 6000 and complete image coverage was acquired. Four distinct assemblages, ranging from dense larger-sized Bathymodiolus mussel beds to smaller-sized mussel clumps and alvinocaridid shrimps, and two types of substrata were defined based on high definition photographs and video imagery. To evaluate spatial variation, faunal distribution was mapped in three dimensions. A high degree of patchiness characterizes this 11 m high sulfide structure. The differences observed in assemblage and substratum distribution were related to habitat characteristics (fluid exits, depth and structure orientation). Gradients in community structure were observed, which coincided with an increasing distance from the fluid exits. A biological zonation model for the Eiffel Tower edifice was created in which faunal composition and distribution can be visually explained by the presence/absence of fluid exits.

Community structure, Spatial distribution, Faunal assemblages, Video analysis, Lucky Strike, Hydrothermal vent, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Vent ecology
0967-0637
2026-2040
Cuvelier, Daphne
d6449b18-fb48-4d43-8299-ad5df13727fd
Sarrazin, Jozée
ef38f067-1b60-441d-9151-926c54e274ed
Colaço, Ana
624450ca-8296-48b0-806a-05c210cd165e
Copley, Jon
5f30e2a6-76c1-4150-9a42-dcfb8f5788ef
Desbruyères, Daniel
62eac3d8-185b-4f35-9fa0-0446d2bd60b6
Glover, Adrian G.
91192a3a-fc25-4c1f-b062-2e4da183272e
Tyler, Paul
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Serrão Santos, Ricardo
3d67bf46-5136-4b8a-8df4-c5c34132568b
Cuvelier, Daphne
d6449b18-fb48-4d43-8299-ad5df13727fd
Sarrazin, Jozée
ef38f067-1b60-441d-9151-926c54e274ed
Colaço, Ana
624450ca-8296-48b0-806a-05c210cd165e
Copley, Jon
5f30e2a6-76c1-4150-9a42-dcfb8f5788ef
Desbruyères, Daniel
62eac3d8-185b-4f35-9fa0-0446d2bd60b6
Glover, Adrian G.
91192a3a-fc25-4c1f-b062-2e4da183272e
Tyler, Paul
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Serrão Santos, Ricardo
3d67bf46-5136-4b8a-8df4-c5c34132568b

Cuvelier, Daphne, Sarrazin, Jozée, Colaço, Ana, Copley, Jon, Desbruyères, Daniel, Glover, Adrian G., Tyler, Paul and Serrão Santos, Ricardo (2009) Distribution and spatial variation of hydrothermal faunal assemblages at Lucky Strike (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) revealed by high-resolution video image analysis. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 56 (11), 2026-2040. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2009.06.006).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Whilst the fauna inhabiting hydrothermal vent structures in the Atlantic Ocean is reasonably well known, less is understood about the spatial distributions of the fauna in relation to abiotic and biotic factors. In this study, a major active hydrothermal edifice (Eiffel Tower, at 1690 m depth) on the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR)) was investigated. Video transects were carried out by ROV Victor 6000 and complete image coverage was acquired. Four distinct assemblages, ranging from dense larger-sized Bathymodiolus mussel beds to smaller-sized mussel clumps and alvinocaridid shrimps, and two types of substrata were defined based on high definition photographs and video imagery. To evaluate spatial variation, faunal distribution was mapped in three dimensions. A high degree of patchiness characterizes this 11 m high sulfide structure. The differences observed in assemblage and substratum distribution were related to habitat characteristics (fluid exits, depth and structure orientation). Gradients in community structure were observed, which coincided with an increasing distance from the fluid exits. A biological zonation model for the Eiffel Tower edifice was created in which faunal composition and distribution can be visually explained by the presence/absence of fluid exits.

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More information

Published date: November 2009
Keywords: Community structure, Spatial distribution, Faunal assemblages, Video analysis, Lucky Strike, Hydrothermal vent, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Vent ecology
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 69293
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/69293
ISSN: 0967-0637
PURE UUID: 2be9040f-9254-44bb-affa-655e1d75fcfa
ORCID for Jon Copley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3333-4325

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 27 Oct 2009
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:38

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Contributors

Author: Daphne Cuvelier
Author: Jozée Sarrazin
Author: Ana Colaço
Author: Jon Copley ORCID iD
Author: Daniel Desbruyères
Author: Adrian G. Glover
Author: Paul Tyler
Author: Ricardo Serrão Santos

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