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Spatial and interannual variation in the faunal distribution at Broken Spur vent field (29°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Spatial and interannual variation in the faunal distribution at Broken Spur vent field (29°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
Spatial and interannual variation in the faunal distribution at Broken Spur vent field (29°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Initial ecological observations at Broken Spur in 1993 suggested a low biomass relative to other deep-water vent communities known along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The persistence of a low Shrimp biomass over 15 mo at Broken Spur vents appears to refute the hypothesis that the community is expanding through reproduction and immigration to occupy habitat vacated during a recent period of hydrothermal quiescence or catastrophe. Although the absence of 'swarms' of shrimp similar to those found fit the hydrothermal mounds of TAG (26°N) and Snake Pit (23°N) is a visually striking feature of the majority of venting structures known at Broken Spur, the biomass of fauna other than shrimp may not be significantly less than that of other Mid-Atlantic sites. The discovery of 'swarms' of shrimp at Bogdanov Site, visited for the first time in 1994, suggests that availability of substratum exposed to the flow of hydrothermal fluids, which is a function of the topography of venting structures, may be a prerequisite for the development of these dense aggregations. Two testable predictions arise from this hypothesis. Firstly, dense aggregations of Rimicaris exoculata should occur at any other structures with a morphology similar to Bogdanov Site that may be discovered in the Broken Spur vent field, and should not occur at other isolated chimney structures that may be found. Secondly, 'swarms' of shrimp should appear at any Broken Spur chimneys that develop into structures with a morphology more similar to that of Bogdanov Site in future.

0025-3162
723-733
Copley, J. T.P.
5f30e2a6-76c1-4150-9a42-dcfb8f5788ef
Tyler, P. A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Murton, B. J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12
Van Dover, C. L.
ae91402f-83d9-462c-98c8-b699cee716ea
Copley, J. T.P.
5f30e2a6-76c1-4150-9a42-dcfb8f5788ef
Tyler, P. A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Murton, B. J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12
Van Dover, C. L.
ae91402f-83d9-462c-98c8-b699cee716ea

Copley, J. T.P., Tyler, P. A., Murton, B. J. and Van Dover, C. L. (1997) Spatial and interannual variation in the faunal distribution at Broken Spur vent field (29°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Marine Biology, 129 (4), 723-733. (doi:10.1007/s002270050215).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Initial ecological observations at Broken Spur in 1993 suggested a low biomass relative to other deep-water vent communities known along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The persistence of a low Shrimp biomass over 15 mo at Broken Spur vents appears to refute the hypothesis that the community is expanding through reproduction and immigration to occupy habitat vacated during a recent period of hydrothermal quiescence or catastrophe. Although the absence of 'swarms' of shrimp similar to those found fit the hydrothermal mounds of TAG (26°N) and Snake Pit (23°N) is a visually striking feature of the majority of venting structures known at Broken Spur, the biomass of fauna other than shrimp may not be significantly less than that of other Mid-Atlantic sites. The discovery of 'swarms' of shrimp at Bogdanov Site, visited for the first time in 1994, suggests that availability of substratum exposed to the flow of hydrothermal fluids, which is a function of the topography of venting structures, may be a prerequisite for the development of these dense aggregations. Two testable predictions arise from this hypothesis. Firstly, dense aggregations of Rimicaris exoculata should occur at any other structures with a morphology similar to Bogdanov Site that may be discovered in the Broken Spur vent field, and should not occur at other isolated chimney structures that may be found. Secondly, 'swarms' of shrimp should appear at any Broken Spur chimneys that develop into structures with a morphology more similar to that of Bogdanov Site in future.

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Published date: 1 October 1997

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 445306
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/445306
ISSN: 0025-3162
PURE UUID: 4646ded2-f7b6-4cc0-b8a8-f5952b9d1ae2
ORCID for J. T.P. Copley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3333-4325

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Date deposited: 02 Dec 2020 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:41

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Contributors

Author: J. T.P. Copley ORCID iD
Author: P. A. Tyler
Author: B. J. Murton
Author: C. L. Van Dover

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