Distribution and spatial variation of hydrothermal faunal assemblages at Lucky Strike (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) revealed by high-resolution video image analysis |
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| Authors: | Daphne Cuvelier Joze Sarrazin Ana Colao Jon Copley Daniel Desbruyres Adrian G Glover Paul Tyler Ricardo Serro Santos |
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| Institution: | Daphne Cuvelier, Jozée Sarrazin, Ana Colaço, Jon Copley, Daniel Desbruyères, Adrian G. Glover, Paul Tyler,Ricardo Serrão Santos, |
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| 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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| Keywords: | Community structure Spatial distribution Faunal assemblages Video analysis Lucky Strike Hydrothermal vent Mid-Atlantic Ridge Vent ecology |
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