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Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe-Shetland Channel

Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe-Shetland Channel
Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe-Shetland Channel
The response of a deep, cold-water benthic community to physical disturbance from offshore drilling was investigated using Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) video in the Faroe–Shetland Channel. This study presents a novel method for characterising changes in the ecosystem function of deep-water benthic megafaunal communities in response to physical disturbance. Ecosystem function is investigated using a range of community parameters, particularly abundance and diversity. High levels of physical disturbance, characterised by smothering of the seabed within a radius of 50 to 120 m around the drilling site, resulted in significant but variable reductions in megafaunal abundance (up to 92.3%). Reductions in diversity, particularly in species richness, were apparent between disturbed (Mao Tao estimated species richness of ES(500) = 12.9) and undisturbed areas (ES(500) = 20.6). The implications of selective removal of taxa on ecosystem function and recovery are discussed. Low level disturbance had comparatively little effect on the megafaunal communities; the effects varied in nature depending on motility and functional group (e.g. motile scavenger abundances were maximal at intermediate distances from disturbance). We conclude by comparing the functioning of the ecosystem under different regimes of disturbance and discuss implications for recovery of disturbed deep-sea habitats.
benthos, disturbance, megafauna, ROV imaging, abundance, diversity, ecosystem function, Faroe–Shetland Channel
0171-8630
43-54
Jones, D.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Hudson, I.
cf9dd6b8-ad1b-494c-9927-1016faac307c
Bett, B.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Jones, D.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Hudson, I.
cf9dd6b8-ad1b-494c-9927-1016faac307c
Bett, B.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9

Jones, D., Hudson, I. and Bett, B. (2006) Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe-Shetland Channel. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 319, 43-54.

Record type: Article

Abstract

The response of a deep, cold-water benthic community to physical disturbance from offshore drilling was investigated using Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) video in the Faroe–Shetland Channel. This study presents a novel method for characterising changes in the ecosystem function of deep-water benthic megafaunal communities in response to physical disturbance. Ecosystem function is investigated using a range of community parameters, particularly abundance and diversity. High levels of physical disturbance, characterised by smothering of the seabed within a radius of 50 to 120 m around the drilling site, resulted in significant but variable reductions in megafaunal abundance (up to 92.3%). Reductions in diversity, particularly in species richness, were apparent between disturbed (Mao Tao estimated species richness of ES(500) = 12.9) and undisturbed areas (ES(500) = 20.6). The implications of selective removal of taxa on ecosystem function and recovery are discussed. Low level disturbance had comparatively little effect on the megafaunal communities; the effects varied in nature depending on motility and functional group (e.g. motile scavenger abundances were maximal at intermediate distances from disturbance). We conclude by comparing the functioning of the ecosystem under different regimes of disturbance and discuss implications for recovery of disturbed deep-sea habitats.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: benthos, disturbance, megafauna, ROV imaging, abundance, diversity, ecosystem function, Faroe–Shetland Channel

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 42024
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/42024
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: 2ec208c6-f214-4468-b668-f275c99ffe59

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Date deposited: 03 Nov 2006
Last modified: 22 Jul 2022 20:50

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Contributors

Author: D. Jones
Author: I. Hudson
Author: B. Bett

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