Distribution and diversity of deep-sea sponge grounds on the Rosemary Bank Seamount, NE Atlantic

McIntyre, F.; Drewery, Jim; Eerkes-Medrano, Dafne; Neat, Francis

doi:10.1007/s00227-016-2913-z

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The visual survey was conducted using a Seatronics 5 towed body hosting a Kongsberg Maritime OE14-366 PAL color zoom camera 6 . The system was also equipped with six high-intensity lights and sensors that measured at 1 s intervals, the altitude (the distance between the camera system and the seabed), depth (±0.1 m), and pitch and roll of the system (see McIntyre et al, 2013McIntyre et al, , 2016 for details). Seawater temperature was recorded (±0.01 • C) through the sensor attached to the camera system.…”

Section: Visual Survey Of Sponge Aggregationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Distribution of Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations in an Area of Multisectoral Activities and Changing Oceanic Conditions

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Discovery and understanding of fragile deep-sea habitats like sponge aggregations, are being outpaced by anthropogenic resource exploitation. Sustainable ocean development in the Faroe-Shetland Channel Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (FSC NCMPA; northeast Atlantic), which harbors sponge aggregations, now requires adaptive management in the face of encroachment of multisectorial activities in this area (e.g., fishing, oil and gas, shipping) and climate change. We examined sponge morphotype composition, richness, diversity, density and body-size distribution inside and outside the FSC NCMPA, and the role of environmental variability and human impact in these sponge aggregations. Analyses were based on the examination of 465 high resolution images from 13 towed-camera transects. A catalog for regional sponge morphotypes was also developed and applied for these analyses. Analysis revealed that morphotype composition did not differ between inside and outside the FSC NCMPA but richness, diversity and densities of massive/spherical/papillate and flabellate/caliculate sponges were higher inside than outside the boundary. The sponge aggregations occurred within a narrow zone between 450 and 530 m depth, within relatively warm and saline water masses. Furthermore, multiple size cohorts of sponges were recorded inside the FSC NCMPA, in contrast to the single cohort outside. Distance-based linear modeling showed that demersal fisheries, substratum, salinity and temperature explained a statistically-significant amount of variation (48%, p < 0.001) of sponge density across the study area. Findings on density and size cohorts suggest that the FSC NCMPA boundary currently encloses the most vulnerable area, which also demonstrates normal ecosystem functions (e.g., recruitment). However, sponges were constrained to a narrow environmental niche shaped by fisheries and interactions of FSC NCMPA water masses with the slope that in turn likely determine, food supply to the sponge aggregations. Our study illustrated the vulnerability of the FSC NCMPA sponge aggregations to fisheries and changes to water mass properties over time. The morphotype catalog and suite of indicators (i.e., density and body-size Frontiers in Marine Science | www.frontiersin.org 1 April 2019 | Volume 6 | Article 163 Kazanidis et al. Monitoring Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations distribution) allow for baseline and future assessments of anthropogenic and climate change impacts on sponge aggregations' environmental status in the FSC NCMPA, thus guiding management as sectoral encroachment continues in this area.

show abstract

Section: Visual Survey Of Sponge Aggregationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2001; Axelsson, 2003;Klitgaard and Tendal, 2004;Ackers et al, 2007;Cárdenas et al, 2013;Henry and Roberts, 2014a;McIntyre et al, 2016). The construction of the sponge morphotype catalog was also based on the examination of images collected by ROVs over several years in the wider FSC area.…”

Section: Sponge Morphotype Categoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations in an Area of Multisectoral Activities and Changing Oceanic Conditions

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent studies showed reciprocal feedback between the occurrence of suspension feeders and the enhancement of food supply in their inhabiting areas. It has been suggested that coldwater sponges transform dissolved organic matter to particulate forms, making it available to higher trophic levels (De Goeij et al, 2013;Cathalot et al, 2015;McIntyre et al, 2016;Rix et al, 2016). In addition, CWC framework and mounds areas have more suspended particles than the surrounding coral rubble or no-reefs areas (Guihen et al, 2013;Cathalot et al, 2015;Soetaert et al, 2016;Van Oevelen et al, 2018).…”

Section: Currents and Food Supplymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biodiversity has been also proved to be enhanced by numerous factors, including high habitat complexity (Buhl-Mortensen et al, 2010;Henry et al, 2010;Beazley et al, 2013), carbon cycling (Duineveld et al, 2012;White et al, 2012;Cathalot et al, 2015;Rix et al, 2016;Soetaert et al, 2016), recently discovered ecological interactions (Buhl- Mortensen and Mortensen, 2004;Carreiro-Silva et al, 2017;Henry and Roberts, 2017), or chemosynthetic production in the deep-sea (Ramirez-Llodra et al, 2007a;Rodrigues et al, 2013;Levin et al, 2016). Thus, the old view of low diversity, foodpoor, and low metabolic activity has been reconsidered in many deep-sea areas (Ramirez-Llodra et al, 2010;Danovaro et al, 2014;McIntyre et al, 2016;Cunha et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Water Masses on the Biodiversity and Biogeography of Deep-Sea Benthic Ecosystems in the North Atlantic

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Circulation patterns in the North Atlantic Ocean have changed and reorganized multiple times over millions of years, influencing the biodiversity, distribution, and connectivity patterns of deep-sea species and ecosystems. In this study, we review the effects of the water mass properties (temperature, salinity, food supply, carbonate chemistry, and oxygen) on deep-sea benthic megafauna (from species to community level) and discussed in future scenarios of climate change. We focus on the key oceanic controls on deep-sea megafauna biodiversity and biogeography patterns. We place particular attention on cold-water corals and sponges, as these are ecosystem-engineering organisms that constitute vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME) with high associated biodiversity. Besides documenting the current state of the knowledge on this topic, a future scenario for water mass properties in the deep North Atlantic basin was predicted. The pace and severity of climate change in the deep-sea will vary across regions. However, predicted water mass properties showed that all regions in the North Atlantic will be exposed to multiple stressors by 2100, experiencing at least one critical change in water temperature (+2 • C), organic carbon fluxes (reduced up to 50%), ocean acidification (pH reduced up to 0.3), aragonite saturation horizon (shoaling above 1000 m) and/or reduction in dissolved oxygen (>5%). The northernmost regions of the North Atlantic will suffer the greatest impacts. Warmer and more acidic oceans will drastically reduce the suitable habitat for ecosystem-engineers, with severe consequences such as declines in population densities, even compromising their long-term survival, loss of biodiversity and reduced biogeographic distribution that might compromise connectivity at large scales. These effects can be aggravated by reductions in carbon fluxes, particularly in areas where food availability is already limited. Declines in benthic biomass and biodiversity will diminish ecosystem services such as habitat provision, nutrient

show abstract

“…In the North Atlantic, VMEs formed by deep-sea sponges are sometimes encountered on seamounts, ridges, continental slopes and in fjords (Rice et al, 1990;Klitgaard, 1995;Barthel et al, 1996;Murillo et al, 2012;Knudby et al, 2013;Cárdenas and Rapp, 2015;McIntyre et al, 2016). Classed as VME indicator taxa because of their often slow rates of growth and long lifespans (Murillo et al, 2016), deep-sea sponge grounds are especially vulnerable to mechanical disturbances on the deep seafloor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and Mapping of a Deep-Sea Sponge Ground on the Tropic Seamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for Spatial Management in the High Seas

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modeling of Deep-Sea Sponge Grounds GAMs, Maxent and RF showed similar performance in terms of evaluation statistics but a different prediction, with RF showing the highest differences. This algorithm only retained depth and maximum currents whereas GAM and Maxent included bathymetric position index, slope, aspect and backscatter. In these latter two models, P. amadou showed a preference for high backscatter values and areas slightly elevated, flat or with gentle slopes and with a NE orientation. The lack of significant differences in model performance permitted to merge all predictions using an ensemble model approach. Our results contribute toward understanding the environmental drivers and biogeography of the species in the Atlantic. Furthermore, we present a case toward designating the Tropic Seamount as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Area (EBSA) as a contribution to address biodiversity conservation in ABNJs.

show abstract

Distribution and diversity of deep-sea sponge grounds on the Rosemary Bank Seamount, NE Atlantic

Cited by 25 publications

References 36 publications

Distribution of Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations in an Area of Multisectoral Activities and Changing Oceanic Conditions

Distribution of Deep-Sea Sponge Aggregations in an Area of Multisectoral Activities and Changing Oceanic Conditions

Influence of Water Masses on the Biodiversity and Biogeography of Deep-Sea Benthic Ecosystems in the North Atlantic

Characterization and Mapping of a Deep-Sea Sponge Ground on the Tropic Seamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for Spatial Management in the High Seas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About