Template for Submission of Scientific Information to Describe Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas Title/Name of the area: Middle of What Seamount
Abstract (in less than 150 words) Middle of What is a seamount with a deep summit (~900-1000m depth) lying on the South West Indian Ridge in waters forming a dynamic boundary region between sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters. The seamount hosts one of two cold-water coral reefs identified on the...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.259.5767 http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/mar/ebsa-sio-01/other/ebsa-sio-01-uk-01-en.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract (in less than 150 words) Middle of What is a seamount with a deep summit (~900-1000m depth) lying on the South West Indian Ridge in waters forming a dynamic boundary region between sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters. The seamount hosts one of two cold-water coral reefs identified on the ridge to date. The reef on the main summit is largely destroyed whilst those on parasitic volcanic cones lying to the south are largely intact. The seamount also hosts, in places, coral gardens formed of octocorals (including 2m tall bamboo corals) and stylasterids. Large numbers of lantern sharks were also observed in the southern area of the seamount around the parasitic cones. Strong currents sweep over the seamount. |
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