Interannual variation in the epibenthic megafauna at the shallowest station of the HAUSGARTEN observatory (79° N, 6° E)

Meyer, Kirstin S.; Bergmann, Melanie; Soltwedel, Thomas

doi:10.5194/bg-10-3479-2013

Cited by 31 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…m 22 ). Likewise, Meyer et al (2013) reported similar densities (mean 16.5-19.2 ind. m 22 ) of ophiuroids as Soltwedel et al (2009) at 798 N, 1200 m in Fram Strait in the first 2 yr of an inter-annual study of megabenthos; whereas during the last year, the density was significantly higher, (mean 49.6 ind.…”

Section: Methane Derived Carbonate Outcrops-a Substrate For Megafaunamentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Based on morphotypes and appearance, we suggest at least three different species of zoarcids are represented in the photos: (1) Lycodes squamiventer Jensen, 1904, (2) Lycodonus flagellicauda (Jensen, 1902), and (3) Lycodes frigidus Colett, 1879. They are all known at the VR region and recognized from Arctic waters (Bergmann et al ; Meyer et al ). Soft‐bottom anemones, ampharetid‐like polychaetes (hereafter referred to as ampharetids), and large buccinoid gastropods (possible Colus sp.)…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marine environments in the high‐Arctic are characterized by intense seasonality, sub‐zero bottom water temperatures, and extended periods of overlying sea ice. These polar features set a framework for regulation of communities and ecosystems, with intense, episodic pulses of fresh organic matter interspersed among long periods of food limitation (Carroll et al ; Wassmann and Reigstad ; Boetius et al ; Meyer et al ). The deep sea (bathypelagic zone > 1000 m depth) also experiences a framework of food limitation, where photosynthetically derived organic matter (e.g., particulate organic matter, marine snow, fecal pellets) from the euphotic zone has been extensively processed during its transit through the water column, arriving at the seafloor highly degraded (Southward and Southward ; Graf ; Gage and Tyler ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methane cold seeps as biological oases in the high‐Arctic deep sea

Åström

Carroll

Ambrose

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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Cold seeps can support unique faunal communities via chemosynthetic interactions fueled by seabed emissions of hydrocarbons. Additionally, cold seeps can enhance habitat complexity at the deep seafloor through the accretion of methane derived authigenic carbonates (MDAC). We examined infaunal and megafaunal community structure at high-Arctic cold seeps through analyses of benthic samples and seafloor photographs from pockmarks exhibiting highly elevated methane concentrations in sediments and the water column at Vestnesa Ridge (VR), Svalbard (798 N). Infaunal biomass and abundance were five times higher, species richness was 2.5 times higher and diversity was 1.5 times higher at methane-rich Vestnesa compared to a nearby control region. Seabed photos reveal different faunal associations inside, at the edge, and outside Vestnesa pockmarks. Brittle stars were the most common megafauna occurring on the soft bottom plains outside pockmarks. Microbial mats, chemosymbiotic siboglinid worms, and carbonate outcrops were prominent features inside the pockmarks, and high trophic-level predators aggregated around these features. Our faunal data, visual observations, and measurements of sediment characteristics indicate that methane is a key environmental driver of the biological system at VR. We suggest that chemoautotrophic production enhances infaunal diversity, abundance, and biomass at the seep while MDAC create a heterogeneous deep-sea habitat leading to aggregation of heterotrophic, conventional megafauna. Through this combination of rich infaunal and megafaunal associations, the cold seeps of VR are benthic oases compared to the surrounding highArctic deep sea.

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Section: Methane Derived Carbonate Outcrops-a Substrate For Megafaunamentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methane cold seeps as biological oases in the high‐Arctic deep sea

Åström

Carroll

Ambrose

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Images were recorded using a downward-facing towed camera system, the Ocean Floor Observation System (OFOS), and specifics are reported by Meyer et al (2013) for 2012 sampling. The target altitude was 1.5 m, and each image shows approximately 3 to 4 m 2 of the seafloor.…”

Section: Image Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rocky islands in a sea of mud: biotic and abiotic factors structuring deep-sea dropstone communities

Meyer¹,

Young²,

Sweetman³

et al. 2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Stones released by melting icebergs are called dropstones, and these stones constitute island-like hard-bottom habitats at high latitudes. In 2012, dropstone megafauna in the HAUSGARTEN observatory in the Fram Strait was sampled photographically. We tested the hypothesis that dropstones would have the same species distribution patterns as terrestrial islands, using 5 patterns commonly found in the classical island literature. Higher richness, diversity, and abundance of fauna occurred on larger stones and on stones near a deep-water rocky reef. These patterns can be explained by the greater surface area of larger stones, the exposure of larger stones to faster current higher in the benthic boundary layer, and increased larval supply from the rocky reef. Some pairs of morphotypes (12 pairs out of 56 morphotypes and 1540 possible pairs) co-occurred less often than expected by chance. While similar patterns have been attributed to interspecific competition in the classical island literature, we offer alternative mechanisms for dropstones. Non-random co-occurrence on dropstones may be explained by larval dispersal. Dropstone fauna had an overdispersed (clumped) distribution, so pairs of morphotypes may have negative non-random co-occurrence simply because short larval life and limited dispersal ability prevent them from having randomly overlapping distributions. In addition, we found 8 morphotype pairs that co-occurred more often than expected by chance because of epibiontism. The patterns found in dropstone communities resemble terrestrial islands, but different mechanisms may be responsible.

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“…Photographic surveys were carried out during the expedition ARK-XXVII/3 in summer 2012 (2 August-29 September) in the Nansen and Amundsen basins (Fig 1). The seafloor was photographed using a towed Ocean Floor Observation System (OFOS) [75]. Nine stations (one transect per station) were performed: four in the Nansen Basin between 83-84°N and 18-110°E at depths 3571-4066 m, and five in the Amundsen Basin between 83-89°N and 56-131°E at depths 4041-4384 m (Fig 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep-sea megabenthos communities of the Eurasian Central Arctic are influenced by ice-cover and sea-ice algal falls

Rybakova

Kremenetskaia

Vedenin

et al. 2019

Preprint

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26Quantitative camera surveys of benthic megafauna were carried out during the expedition ARK-27 XXVII/3 to the Eastern Central Arctic basins with the research icebreaker Polarstern in summer 28 2012 (2 August-29 September). Nine transects were performed for the first time in deep-sea areas 29 previously fully covered by ice, four of them in the Nansen Basin (3571-4066m) and five in the 30 Amundsen Basin (4041-4384m). At seven of these stations benthic Agassiz trawls were taken near 31 the camera tracks for species identification. The observed Arctic deep-sea megafauna was largely 32 endemic. Several taxa showed a substantially greater depth or geographical range than previously 33 assumed. Variations in the composition and structure of megabenthic communities were analysed 34 and linked to several environmental variables, including state of the sea ice and phytodetritus 35 supply to the seafloor. Three different types of communities were identified based on species 36 dominating the biomass. Among these species were the actiniarian Bathyphellia margaritacea and 37 the holothurians Elpidia heckeri and Kolga hyalina. Variations in megafaunal abundance were first 38 of all related to the proximity to the marginal ice zone. Stations located closer to this zone were 39 characterized by relatively high densities and biomass of B. margaritacea (mean 0.2-1.7 ind m -2 ; 40 0.2-1.5 g ww.m -2 ). The food supply was higher at these stations, as suggested by enhanced 41 concentrations of pigments, organic carbon, bacterial cell abundances and porewater nutrients in the 42 sediments. The fully ice-covered stations closer to the North Pole and partially under multi-year ice 43 were characterized by lower concentrations of the same biogeochemical indicators for food supply. 44 These stations nevertheless hosted relatively high density and biomass of the holothurians E. 45 heckeri (mean 0.9-1.5 ind m -2 ; 0.3-0.4 g ww.m -2 ) or K. hyalina (mean 0.004-1.7 ind m -2 ; 0.01-3.5 g 46 ww.m -2 ), which were observed to feed on large food falls of the sea-ice colonial diatom Melosira 47 arctica. The link between the community structure of megafauna and the extent and condition of the 48 Central Arctic sea-ice cover suggests that future climate changes may substantially affect deep 49 ocean biodiversity. k 3 51 52 Introduction 53 Benthic megafauna comprises marine animals exceeding 0.5-1 cm in size visible on 54 seafloor images. They play an important role in benthic ecosystems through active recycling of 55 sedimented organic matter, bioturbation and foodweb linkages. Megabenthos is a dynamic 56 component of deep-sea ecosystems able to react rapidly to environmental changes [1]. Observations 57 of benthic megafauna in the Central Arctic Basins are rare because of technical difficulties of 58 sampling in the remote deep-sea region covered by permanent ice. Traditional sampling methods 59 such as trawling are challenged by the ice-cover: vessels cannot keep steady speed and course in the 60 ice. Hence, most previous stu...

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Interannual variation in the epibenthic megafauna at the shallowest station of the HAUSGARTEN observatory (79° N, 6° E)

Cited by 31 publications

References 52 publications

Methane cold seeps as biological oases in the high‐Arctic deep sea

Methane cold seeps as biological oases in the high‐Arctic deep sea

Rocky islands in a sea of mud: biotic and abiotic factors structuring deep-sea dropstone communities

Deep-sea megabenthos communities of the Eurasian Central Arctic are influenced by ice-cover and sea-ice algal falls

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