Community composition of mussel associates at deep-sea methane seeps in the Gulf of Mexico and the US Atlantic Margin
Datum
2022
Autor:innen
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Verlag
University of Oregon
Zusammenfassung
Efforts to understand and preserve methane seep communities of the Gulf of Mexico and the
US western Atlantic margin begin with an understanding of biodiversity and community
composition. In this study, 10143 individuals representing 63 different taxa were sampled from
mussel-beds surrounding methane seeps at various depths within two different ocean basins.
Diversity in mussel beds was highest at Baltimore Canyon, the shallowest site sampled in the
Atlantic. Although only four species were sampled at more than one site, species composition
was most alike among sites found at similar depths. The two deepest sites sampled, Florida
Escarpment and Blake Ridge showed a 9.6% similarity. Baltimore Canyon and Chincoteague are
both located in the Atlantic Ocean at different depths but had a 5.3% similarity. The high
diversity of individuals sampled among these sites emphasizes the importance of preserving seep
communities, which provide essential nursery habitats that further support more trophic levels
within the deep-sea ecosystem.
Beschreibung
35 pages