In situ video observations of benthic megafauna and fishes from the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea off Egypt
In situ video observations of benthic megafauna and fishes from the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea off Egypt
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video observations were used to document benthic fauna at a hydrocarbon
drilling location, at 2 720 m depth, in the poorly studied deep water off northern Egypt. The decapod Chaceon
mediterraneus was the most common organism at the site and the only benthic megafaunal invertebrate observed.
Three species of fish, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps and Bathypterois mediterraneus, were also
encountered. These findings confirmed these three species as the deepest-distributed benthic fish in the eastern
Mediterranean, and confirmed that the deep Mediterranean, in particular the eastern basin, is one of the world’s
poorest deep-sea ecosystems in terms of diversity. The behaviour exhibited by the species observed was consistent
with their natatory capacity, deduced from their feeding intensity (gut fullness) and diet (mainly suprabenthic
prey were consumed), and conservative life strategies adapted to an extremely low energy environment.
Bathypterois mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps, Chaceon mediterraneus, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, deep sea, Levantine Sea, remotely operated vehicle, species diversity
215-222
Gates, A.R.
327a3cc6-2e53-4090-9f96-219461087be9
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Cartes, J.E.
89a9e6f7-0e4c-435f-b6e1-d8172c23cf0b
2012
Gates, A.R.
327a3cc6-2e53-4090-9f96-219461087be9
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Cartes, J.E.
89a9e6f7-0e4c-435f-b6e1-d8172c23cf0b
Gates, A.R., Jones, D.O.B. and Cartes, J.E.
(2012)
In situ video observations of benthic megafauna and fishes from the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea off Egypt.
African Journal of Marine Science, 34 (2), .
(doi:10.2989/1814232X.2012.675121).
Abstract
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video observations were used to document benthic fauna at a hydrocarbon
drilling location, at 2 720 m depth, in the poorly studied deep water off northern Egypt. The decapod Chaceon
mediterraneus was the most common organism at the site and the only benthic megafaunal invertebrate observed.
Three species of fish, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps and Bathypterois mediterraneus, were also
encountered. These findings confirmed these three species as the deepest-distributed benthic fish in the eastern
Mediterranean, and confirmed that the deep Mediterranean, in particular the eastern basin, is one of the world’s
poorest deep-sea ecosystems in terms of diversity. The behaviour exhibited by the species observed was consistent
with their natatory capacity, deduced from their feeding intensity (gut fullness) and diet (mainly suprabenthic
prey were consumed), and conservative life strategies adapted to an extremely low energy environment.
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More information
Published date: 2012
Keywords:
Bathypterois mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps, Chaceon mediterraneus, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus, deep sea, Levantine Sea, remotely operated vehicle, species diversity
Organisations:
Marine Biogeochemistry
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 344892
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/344892
ISSN: 1814-232X
PURE UUID: 24902e8b-e134-478d-b722-907e50b698c0
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 05 Nov 2012 16:32
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:20
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Contributors
Author:
A.R. Gates
Author:
D.O.B. Jones
Author:
J.E. Cartes
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