The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

The ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the sub-polar front and Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone; ECO-MAR project strategy and description of the sampling programme 2007–2010

The ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the sub-polar front and Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone; ECO-MAR project strategy and description of the sampling programme 2007–2010
The ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the sub-polar front and Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone; ECO-MAR project strategy and description of the sampling programme 2007–2010
The ECOMAR project investigated photosynthetically-supported life on the North Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) between the Azores and Iceland focussing on the Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone area in the vicinity of the sub-polar front where the North Atlantic Current crosses the MAR. Repeat visits were made to four stations at 2500 m depth on the flanks of the MAR in the years 2007–2010; a pair of northern stations at 54°N in cold water north of the sub-polar front and southern stations at 49°N in warmer water influenced by eddies from the North Atlantic Current. At each station an instrumented mooring was deployed with current meters and sediment traps (100 and 1000 m above the sea floor) to sample downward flux of particulate matter. The patterns of water flow, fronts, primary production and export flux in the region were studied by a combination of remote sensing and in situ measurements. Sonar, tow nets and profilers sampled pelagic fauna over the MAR. Swath bathymetry surveys across the ridge revealed sediment-covered flat terraces parallel to the axis of the MAR with intervening steep rocky slopes. Otter trawls, megacores, baited traps and a suite of tools carried by the R.O.V. Isis including push cores, grabs and a suction device collected benthic fauna. Video and photo surveys were also conducted using the SHRIMP towed vehicle and the R.O.V. Isis. Additional surveying and sampling by landers and R.O.V. focussed on the summit of a seamount (48°44?N, 28°10?W) on the western crest of the MAR between the two southern stations.
Mid-ocean ridge, Marine protected area, North Atlantic, Benthic, Pelagic, Trawling, Bathymetry, Remotely operated vehicle, Charlie–Gibbs
0967-0645
220-230
Priede, Imants G.
2e513dae-a9dd-45ed-8359-cee7e56e3097
Billett, David S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Brierley, Andrew S.
ba497bcb-7f7e-4c88-9846-722be0e62cf1
Hoelzel, A. Rus
2832caad-4faa-414f-85d2-3936e9abb37a
Inall, Mark
fab832f2-d73b-4bfc-8634-dd940d52ae1f
Miller, Peter I.
a5187d8c-201a-43e5-b0c1-4fe1fa5809c0
Cousins, Nicola J.
993d86a3-434b-432f-acd7-9bc974062979
Shields, Mark A.
0ea27afe-3e23-472d-b8d8-fc0ed49e93dd
Fujii, Toyonobu
9c7b6be9-b63e-4da7-8296-88736248edcd
Priede, Imants G.
2e513dae-a9dd-45ed-8359-cee7e56e3097
Billett, David S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Brierley, Andrew S.
ba497bcb-7f7e-4c88-9846-722be0e62cf1
Hoelzel, A. Rus
2832caad-4faa-414f-85d2-3936e9abb37a
Inall, Mark
fab832f2-d73b-4bfc-8634-dd940d52ae1f
Miller, Peter I.
a5187d8c-201a-43e5-b0c1-4fe1fa5809c0
Cousins, Nicola J.
993d86a3-434b-432f-acd7-9bc974062979
Shields, Mark A.
0ea27afe-3e23-472d-b8d8-fc0ed49e93dd
Fujii, Toyonobu
9c7b6be9-b63e-4da7-8296-88736248edcd

Priede, Imants G., Billett, David S.M., Brierley, Andrew S., Hoelzel, A. Rus, Inall, Mark, Miller, Peter I., Cousins, Nicola J., Shields, Mark A. and Fujii, Toyonobu (2013) The ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the sub-polar front and Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone; ECO-MAR project strategy and description of the sampling programme 2007–2010. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 98, 220-230. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.06.012).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The ECOMAR project investigated photosynthetically-supported life on the North Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) between the Azores and Iceland focussing on the Charlie–Gibbs Fracture Zone area in the vicinity of the sub-polar front where the North Atlantic Current crosses the MAR. Repeat visits were made to four stations at 2500 m depth on the flanks of the MAR in the years 2007–2010; a pair of northern stations at 54°N in cold water north of the sub-polar front and southern stations at 49°N in warmer water influenced by eddies from the North Atlantic Current. At each station an instrumented mooring was deployed with current meters and sediment traps (100 and 1000 m above the sea floor) to sample downward flux of particulate matter. The patterns of water flow, fronts, primary production and export flux in the region were studied by a combination of remote sensing and in situ measurements. Sonar, tow nets and profilers sampled pelagic fauna over the MAR. Swath bathymetry surveys across the ridge revealed sediment-covered flat terraces parallel to the axis of the MAR with intervening steep rocky slopes. Otter trawls, megacores, baited traps and a suite of tools carried by the R.O.V. Isis including push cores, grabs and a suction device collected benthic fauna. Video and photo surveys were also conducted using the SHRIMP towed vehicle and the R.O.V. Isis. Additional surveying and sampling by landers and R.O.V. focussed on the summit of a seamount (48°44?N, 28°10?W) on the western crest of the MAR between the two southern stations.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 15 December 2013
Keywords: Mid-ocean ridge, Marine protected area, North Atlantic, Benthic, Pelagic, Trawling, Bathymetry, Remotely operated vehicle, Charlie–Gibbs
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 360965
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/360965
ISSN: 0967-0645
PURE UUID: 830a1012-f647-4b4e-a2c4-11a24a019802

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Jan 2014 10:44
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 15:44

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Imants G. Priede
Author: David S.M. Billett
Author: Andrew S. Brierley
Author: A. Rus Hoelzel
Author: Mark Inall
Author: Peter I. Miller
Author: Nicola J. Cousins
Author: Mark A. Shields
Author: Toyonobu Fujii

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×