Depth zonation and bathymetric trends of deep-sea megafaunal scavengers of the Hawaiian Islands

Yeh, John; Drazen, Jeffrey C.

doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2008.08.005

Cited by 72 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Depth-related faunal zonation (e.g. Copley et al, 1996;Howell et al, 2002;Menezes et al, 2006;Yeh and Drazen, 2009;Bergstad et al, 2012) and even vertical stratification within the same species (Zardus et al, 2006;Miller et al, 2011) have been commonly reported in the deep sea. The rate of faunal change assessed in this study was more pronounced from shallow (100-600 m) to intermediate (600-1000 m) depth intervals, possibly reflecting not only sharper environmental gradients but also greater topographic complexity and substrate heterogeneity usually found at upper bathyal depths .…”

Section: Spatial Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

et al. 2013

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Cold-water corals are widely considered as important structural components of benthic habitats, potentially enhancing local abundance in a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Yet, current knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns of these vulnerable, slow-growing organisms is scarce and fragmented, limiting the effectiveness of spatial management and conservation measures. We have conducted an exhaustive compilation of records of alcyonaceans, antipatharians, scleractinians and stylasterids available through present day to assess the diversity, distribution and spatial structure of coral assemblages in the Azores exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The resulting database comprises 2501 entries concerning historical oceanographic expeditions and other published sources, as well as unpublished data from bottom longline by-catch. Our taxonomic inventory appears to be fairly complete for the explored habitats, accounting for 164 species (79 alcyonaceans, 58 scleractinians, 18 antipatharians and 9 stylasterids), nine of which were documented for the first time. The Azores EEZ harbours a mixed coral fauna with several zoogeographic origins, showing the closest affinity with the Lusitanian–Mediterranean region. Very few apparent endemics were found (14%), and only in part supported by consistent sampling. Coral diversity is particularly high between 300 and 900 m depths, in areas recognized as traditional fishing grounds or exploitable fish habitat within the 100-mile limit of the EEZ. The composition of coral assemblages shows significant geographical structure among longitudinal sections of the study area at comparable depths (100–1500 m). There is no evidence of a possible role of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or latitudinal effects underlying this pattern, which suggests that it may instead reflect assemblage variability among features. Stronger changes in species composition were found along the bathymetric gradient. Notwithstanding the mix of partially overlapping steno- and eurybathic species that characterize the vertical distribution of corals, there is a distinct transition from shallow (100–600 m) to intermediate (600–1000 m) depths. The analysis presented here constitutes a valuable contribution for efficient conservation policies of coral-associated vulnerable marine ecosystems and their sustainable use as fishing areas

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Section: Spatial Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

et al. 2013

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“…Scavenging represents an important foraging strategy for many animals living at shelf and slope depths (Drazen et al 2001, Yau et al 2002, Collins et al 2005, Yeh & Drazen 2009) yet ecological data on scavenging communities from these regions of the world's continental margins remain sparse. Several commercially exploited scavenging species inhabit this depth range, such as the red king crab Paralithodes camtchaticus, Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides, and Atlantic hagfish Myxine glutinosa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It follows that scavenger response to baited experiments should be influenced by the type of bait being used, which for the most part has consisted of scombroid fishes (Priede et al 1990, Henriques et al 2002, Yeh & Drazen 2009). Barry & Drazen (2007) made opportunistic observations on the effect of introducing macrourid carrion on scavenger behavior when individuals of Coryphaenoides armatus died during caged experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Baited-camera observations of deep-sea megafaunal scavenger ecology on the California slope

Yeh

Drazen²

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Baited cameras have offered much insight into the ecology of scavenging animals in several parts of the worlds' oceans, revealing patterns of vertical zonation, trends in size and abundance with depth, and aspects of feeding behavior. It is surprising, then, that very little has been published on the scavenging community off the eastern Pacific continental slope, where work of this nature originated. Here we present a study of megafaunal scavenger ecology encompassing a wide range of taxa from shelf to abyssal depths off central California. During 13 baited camera deployments from 105 to 3144 m, we photographed 25 scavenging taxa, consisting mainly of fish and crabs. Combined with trawl results, these data showed that prevalence of scavenging in fishes increased from 2% of all species at 100 m to 46% of all species at 3000 m, suggesting more opportunistic feeding habits and the increasing importance of carrion as a food source at greater depths. Of 4 scavenging fish species examined, 3 (Antimora microlepis, Albatrossia pectoralis, and Anoplopoma fimbria) displayed significant increases in length with increased depth while Coryphaenoides acrolepis displayed an opposite, 'smaller-deeper' trend. Estimates of fish density generated from camera first arrival times and trawl data were compared, yielding no significant correlation. During one camera deployment, C. armatus was used as bait, which resulted in the complete absence of C. armatus, while a peak abundance of 11 individuals was observed at similar depths/locations using nonmacrourid bait. The depth-related patterns in scavenger species richness and intraspecific size-depth trends differ from those in the North Atlantic, suggesting that further regional comparisons are needed to better understand scavenger ecology on a global scale.

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“…However, an alternative trophic pathway exists. Many deep-sea fishes are attracted to cameras baited with pelagic carrion (Priede & Bagley 2000, Yeh & Drazen 2009) and a few studies have noted carrion in their diets (Haedrich & Henderson 1974, Pearcy & Ambler 1974, Bjelland et al 2000. However, these observations have rarely been quantified (Drazen et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lipid composition and diet inferences of abyssal macrourids in the eastern North Pacific

Drazen¹,

Phleger²,

Guest³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The lipid compositions of 2 abyssal macrourids, Coryphaenoides armatus and C. yaquinae, from the eastern North Pacific were examined and used to infer diet. The resulting fatty acid (FA) profiles are the first published for C. yaquinae and among the first for abyssal fishes. They indicated a greater proportion of polyunsaturated FAs and lower monounsaturated FAs than shallower living congeners, suggestive of homeoviscous adaptations to great pressure. Cholesterol was the predominant sterol, which is frequently the case for exclusively carnivorous species. Comparisons of macrourid FA profiles were made to those of benthic prey and epipelagic carrion sources, including the Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas captured in surface waters of the abyssal study site. The FA profiles of macrourid muscle were very similar to those of squid mantle muscle. The FA profiles of macrourid liver and swimbladder were similar to benthic crustaceans, whole squid, squid digestive gland and the epipelagic fish Trachurus symmetricus. For both tissues, the FA profiles of echinoderms were the most different. These comparisons suggest a strong link to carrion and benthic crustaceans and a weak one to echinoderms, the dominant megafauna at the study site and in most of the abyssal ocean. These results support previous stomach content and stable isotope analyses, reinforcing the hypothesis that there are closer food web ties between abyssal fishes and epipelagic nekton than to many abyssal benthic groups. The abyssal grenadier Coryphaenoides armatus feeds predominantly on crustaceans and carrion, and not on echinoderms, which are the most abundant benthic megafauna.

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Depth zonation and bathymetric trends of deep-sea megafaunal scavengers of the Hawaiian Islands

Cited by 72 publications

References 49 publications

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Baited-camera observations of deep-sea megafaunal scavenger ecology on the California slope

Lipid composition and diet inferences of abyssal macrourids in the eastern North Pacific

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