Deep‐Sea Benthic Sampling

Gage, John; Bett, Brian J.

doi:10.1002/9780470995129.ch7

Cited by 54 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Though widely used, the reliability and limitations of such large box corers have really never been critically examined in situ. Earlier intercomparisons (Smith & Howard 1972, Elmgren 1973, Beukema 1974, Probert 1984, Boland & Rowe 1991, Hayashi & Sugino 1993, Bett et al 1994, Shirayama & Fukushima 1995, Somerfield & Clarke 1997, Gage & Bett 2005) only compared the performance of different bottom samplers, but failed to provide firm evidence that any of them provides reliable and representative sediment samples. Thus, sampling of offshore sediments has long been based more on faith than science.…”

Section: History In Briefmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long overdue improvement of box corer sampling

Blomqvist¹,

Ekeroth²,

Elmgren³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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An improved, large double-jawed box corer, intended primarily for sampling of soft sediments on continental margins and in large lakes, is described. The device performs reliably when entering the sediment and enclosing the sample, during withdrawal and hoisting on board the ship and also when detaching the collected sediment sample. It offers the following advantages: (1) robust design, (2) minimally impeded flow of water through the box chamber during lowering and (3) an efficient closure mechanism. It is furnished with a supporting stand, a transparent liner and an accessory anti-slosh baffle for insertion in the liner as the corer is set down on the ship's deck. In situ video records and turbidity measurements from field trials, as well as visual inspection of the core and supernatant water after retrieval, show that the device collects minimally disturbed sediment when properly and carefully operated. This contrasts with the bulky United States Naval Electronics Laboratory (USNEL) Spade Corer in which water flow through the box chamber during lowering is impeded, causing a bow-wave ahead of the corer that displaces surficial sediment. In addition, the USNEL's single-spade closing mechanism deforms the sediment sample severely and can even cause loss of sediment. Our new box corer performs much better, making it suitable for quantitative benthic sampling.

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Section: History In Briefmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long overdue improvement of box corer sampling

Blomqvist¹,

Ekeroth²,

Elmgren³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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show abstract

“…Benthic fauna were collected using a single warp semi-balloon otter trawl (OTSB), with a wing end spread of 8.6 m and a headrope height of 1.5 m. Further details of the net configuration can be found in Merrett & Marshall (1980). Scavenging (Gage & Bett 2005). Three undisturbed cores with intact sediment layers were selected for sampling at each station.…”

Section: Sample Collection and Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No trawl samples were collected from the northern station in 2009 due to problems with the trawling gear. Sediment cores were collected in 2007 and 2009 using a Bowers-Connolly megacorer fitted with eight 100 mm diameter coring tubes (Gage & Bett 2005). Three undisturbed cores with intact sediment layers were selected for sampling at each station.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Elucidating trophic pathways in benthic deep-sea assemblages of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north and south of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone

Reid¹,

Wigham²,

McGill³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Replicate samples were collected for large (500 mm) and small macrofauna (250^355 mm), meiofauna (45 mm) as well as an intermediate sized 'mesofauna' (180 mm) from each location using a Bowers & Connely 'Megacorer' (Gage & Bett, 2005). This is a device that holds up to 12 individual core tubes (10 cm diameter) and has a hydraulically damped action, which helps to reduce core compaction and any potential loss of the £occulent sediment surface layer and its associated fauna (Bett & Gage, 2000).…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for benthic body size miniaturization in the deep sea

Kaariainen

Bett

2006

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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The benthic body size miniaturization hypothesis states that deep-sea communities are dominated by organisms of smaller body size, although some ¢eld studies have produced contradictory results. Using appropriate sample sets, this study tests this hypothesis by contrasting the benthic communities of the Fladen Ground (North Sea, 150 m) and the Faroe^Shetland Channel (1600 m). Samples were collected for large (500 mm) and small macrofauna (250^355 mm), meiofauna (45 mm) as well as an intermediate sized 'mesofauna' (180 mm) to ensure comprehensive coverage of the full meio-and macro-faunal body size-range. The body size structure of the benthos was compared using two methods. The more widely used average individual biomass method involves dividing the total sample biomass by sample abundance. Additionally, body size accumulation curves were constructed by assigning all specimens into a logarithmic size-class and then plotting the cumulative percentage of individuals present in each size-class. The results seem to support the hypothesis that the deep-sea environment is a small organism habitat. Although these ¢ndings only represent two locations, the overall body size accumulation curves clearly display a statistically signi¢cant shift towards smaller body sizes at the deeper site. The magnitude of the e¡ect is appreciable with median metazoan body size reducing from 14.3 mg wet weight in the Fladen Ground to 3.8 mg wet weight in the Faroe^Shetland Channel. The average individual biomass measurements are shown to be of limited value and can lead to potentially misleading conclusions if the underlying sizestructure is not analysed in detail.

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Deep‐Sea Benthic Sampling

Cited by 54 publications

References 64 publications

Long overdue improvement of box corer sampling

Long overdue improvement of box corer sampling

Elucidating trophic pathways in benthic deep-sea assemblages of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north and south of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone

Evidence for benthic body size miniaturization in the deep sea

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