An assessment of the distribution of deep-sea corals in Atlantic Canada by using both scientific and local forms of knowledge

Gass, Susan E.; Willison, J. H. M.

doi:10.1007/3-540-27673-4_11

Cited by 43 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The cuidaría and sponge morphotypes seen were those characteristics of deep-ocean habitats. However, the densities of sessile cuidaría in the shallower dives were much less than have been documented in much shaUower areas of Atlantic continental slopes (Gass and Wilhson, 2005;Reed et al, 2006;Roberts et al, 2006). The ñshes found in the shallower of the two sets of dives were characteristic of Haedrich and Merrett's (1988) 'rise' fauna, found along continental slopes at depths < 4500 m, while the few forms seen in the second set of dives were those they associated with the abyssal plain (depths > 4500 m).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Small-scale distribution of deep-sea demersal nekton and other megafauna in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Felley

Vecchione

Wilson

2008

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Small-scale distribution of deep-sea demersal nekton and other megafauna in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Felley

Vecchione

Wilson

2008

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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“…This is consistent with Mortensen et al (2008) who found that Acanella dominated some sediment areas along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). Species from the family Isididae have a root-like system which allows them to colonise and survive in sedimented areas (Gass and Willison, 2005;Woodby et al, 2009). This system is analogous to the peduncle in pennatulids which typically allows pennatulids to dominate coral communities in sedimented areas as shown at 45ON on the MAR (Morris et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of cold-water corals in the Whittard Canyon, NE Atlantic Ocean

Morris

Tyler

Masson

et al. 2013

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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a b s t r a c tThe deep-sea floor occupies about 60% of the surface of the planet and is covered mainly by fine sediments. Most studies of deep-sea benthic fauna therefore have concentrated on soft sediments with little sampling of hard substrata, such as rocky outcrops in submarine canyons. Here we assess the distribution and abundance of cold-water corals within the Whittard Canyon (NE Atlantic) using video footage from the ROV Isis. Abundances per 100 m of video transect were calculated and mapped using ArcGIS. The data were separated into five substratum types, 'Sediment', 'Mixed Sediment and Rock', 'Sediment Slope', 'Lophelia reef' and 'Lophelia and rock'. Abundance and community structure were compared. A maximum abundance of 855 coral colonies per 100 m of ROV transect were observed with 31 coral types identified. Highest taxon richness was observed along a 'Lophelia reef' area, although a larger richness of Octocorallia was observed away from the 'Lophelia reef' areas. 'Lophelia reef' and 'Lophelia and rock' areas were found to have a different coral community structure from the other substratum types. We suggest this is the result of Lophelia outcompeting other coral types because there is increased coral taxon richness in areas without Lophelia. We also hypothesise that the hydrodynamic regime within the Whittard Canyon results in differences in organic matter input including higher quality food, in comparison with other deep-water environments, leading to changes in the coral communities.Crown

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“…It is possible that over 100 years of fishing and at least 30 years of trawling have impacted corals to the degree that we are no longer have an accurate picture of their distribution and abundance. Anecdotal information from fishermen in the Canadian Maritimes suggests that long-time fishermen have been well aware of these corals and have witnessed a notable decline (records from the 1800s, see Gass 2002). Given the potential ages of gorgonians -100ʼs to 1000ʼs of years (Druffel et al 1995;Andrews et al 2002;Risk et al 2002;Roark et al 2003) -these species might be irrevocably harmed by a single trawl pass, and may not recover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pots and traps and hook and line methods are similarly limited in impact and use in this region. Bottom longlines can damage corals (Gass 2002;Krieger and Wing 2002); longlines, like trawl nets, frequently remove coral trees from the rocks and boulders they grow upon (Krieger and Wing 2002). But bottom trawling is the most ecologically damaging method of fishing .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation and management implications of deep-sea coral and fishing effort distributions in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Morgan

Etnoyer²,

Scholz

et al. 2005

Cold-Water Corals and Ecosystems

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Abstract. The conservation of deep-sea corals is of growing interest in the UnitedStates. A range of issues including biodiversity protection, conservation of seafloor habitats, and the role of deep-sea corals as essential fish habitat places greater significance on understanding the distributions of these corals and fishing activities. At the same time overfishing of some groundfish populations highlights the need for ecosystem-based management. Here we present records of habitat-forming deepsea corals from the United States Pacific Fishery Management Council region that we analyze in relation to differential ecological impacts of demersal fishing gears. We use an ecological footprint approach combining groundfish catch by gear type with a previously published ecological severity ranking of fishing gears.Deep-sea corals in the Isididae, Paragorgiidae, Primnoidae, Antipathidae and Stylasteriidae families are widespread throughout their depth ranges in the Northeast Pacific, although the scleractinian families Oculinidae and Caryophylliidae are relatively rare. In this qualitative analysis, we highlight areas of relatively high coral concentration such as the West Coast continental shelf break and Monterey submarine canyon, areas that are presently relatively lightly fished but where corals are recorded. Bottom trawling gear has far and away the regionʼs largest ecological footprint. Other gears with smaller footprints include bottom longline, pot/trap and hook and line gear. Most of these impacts seem to have occurred in areas where deep-sea corals are relatively scarce, but fishing closures to protect rockfish implemented in 2002 may have the unfortunate effect of redistributing fishing effort to areas of deep-sea coral aggregations. An ecosystem-based management approach would detect and prevent such unintended consequences of redistributing fishing effort and placing deep-sea corals in harmʼs way.

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An assessment of the distribution of deep-sea corals in Atlantic Canada by using both scientific and local forms of knowledge

Cited by 43 publications

References 13 publications

Small-scale distribution of deep-sea demersal nekton and other megafauna in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Small-scale distribution of deep-sea demersal nekton and other megafauna in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Distribution of cold-water corals in the Whittard Canyon, NE Atlantic Ocean

Conservation and management implications of deep-sea coral and fishing effort distributions in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

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