Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay
We report the northernmost and deepest known occurrence of deep-water pycnodontine oysters, based on two surveys along the French Atlantic continental margin to the La Chapelle continental slope (2006) and the Guilvinec Canyon (2008). The combined use of multibeam bathymetry, seismic profiling, CTD...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:274543 2023-05-15T17:34:51+02:00 Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay Van Rooij, D. De Mol, L. Le Guilloux, E. Wisshak, M. Huvenne, V.A.I. Moeremans, R. Henriet, J.-P. 2010-12 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/274543/ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 unknown Van Rooij, D.; De Mol, L.; Le Guilloux, E.; Wisshak, M.; Huvenne, V.A.I. orcid:0000-0001-7135-6360 Moeremans, R.; Henriet, J.-P. 2010 Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 57 (12). 1561-1572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2010 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 2023-02-04T19:35:49Z We report the northernmost and deepest known occurrence of deep-water pycnodontine oysters, based on two surveys along the French Atlantic continental margin to the La Chapelle continental slope (2006) and the Guilvinec Canyon (2008). The combined use of multibeam bathymetry, seismic profiling, CTD casts and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) made it possible to describe the physical habitat and to assess the oceanographic control for the recently described species Neopycnodonte zibrowii. These oysters have been observed in vivo in depths from 540 to 846 m, colonizing overhanging banks or escarpments protruding from steep canyon flanks. Especially in the Bay of Biscay, such physical habitats may only be observed within canyons, where they are created by both long-term turbiditic and contouritic processes. Frequent observations of sand ripples on the seabed indicate the presence of a steady, but enhanced bottom current of about 40 cm/s. The occurrence of oysters also coincides with the interface between the Eastern North Atlantic Water and the Mediterranean Outflow Water. A combination of this water mass mixing, internal tide generation and a strong primary surface productivity may generate an enhanced nutrient flux, which is funnelled through the canyon. When the ideal environmental conditions are met, up to 100 individuals per m² may be observed. These deep-water oysters require a vertical habitat, which is often incompatible with the requirements of other sessile organisms, and are only sparsely distributed along the continental margins. The discovery of these giant oyster banks illustrates the rich biodiversity of deep-sea canyons and their underestimation as true ecosystem hotspots. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 57 12 1561 1572 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
We report the northernmost and deepest known occurrence of deep-water pycnodontine oysters, based on two surveys along the French Atlantic continental margin to the La Chapelle continental slope (2006) and the Guilvinec Canyon (2008). The combined use of multibeam bathymetry, seismic profiling, CTD casts and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) made it possible to describe the physical habitat and to assess the oceanographic control for the recently described species Neopycnodonte zibrowii. These oysters have been observed in vivo in depths from 540 to 846 m, colonizing overhanging banks or escarpments protruding from steep canyon flanks. Especially in the Bay of Biscay, such physical habitats may only be observed within canyons, where they are created by both long-term turbiditic and contouritic processes. Frequent observations of sand ripples on the seabed indicate the presence of a steady, but enhanced bottom current of about 40 cm/s. The occurrence of oysters also coincides with the interface between the Eastern North Atlantic Water and the Mediterranean Outflow Water. A combination of this water mass mixing, internal tide generation and a strong primary surface productivity may generate an enhanced nutrient flux, which is funnelled through the canyon. When the ideal environmental conditions are met, up to 100 individuals per m² may be observed. These deep-water oysters require a vertical habitat, which is often incompatible with the requirements of other sessile organisms, and are only sparsely distributed along the continental margins. The discovery of these giant oyster banks illustrates the rich biodiversity of deep-sea canyons and their underestimation as true ecosystem hotspots. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Van Rooij, D. De Mol, L. Le Guilloux, E. Wisshak, M. Huvenne, V.A.I. Moeremans, R. Henriet, J.-P. |
spellingShingle |
Van Rooij, D. De Mol, L. Le Guilloux, E. Wisshak, M. Huvenne, V.A.I. Moeremans, R. Henriet, J.-P. Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
author_facet |
Van Rooij, D. De Mol, L. Le Guilloux, E. Wisshak, M. Huvenne, V.A.I. Moeremans, R. Henriet, J.-P. |
author_sort |
Van Rooij, D. |
title |
Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
title_short |
Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
title_full |
Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
title_fullStr |
Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
title_full_unstemmed |
Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay |
title_sort |
environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the bay of biscay |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/274543/ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
Van Rooij, D.; De Mol, L.; Le Guilloux, E.; Wisshak, M.; Huvenne, V.A.I. orcid:0000-0001-7135-6360 Moeremans, R.; Henriet, J.-P. 2010 Environmental setting of deep-water oysters in the Bay of Biscay. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 57 (12). 1561-1572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2010.09.002 |
container_title |
Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers |
container_volume |
57 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
1561 |
op_container_end_page |
1572 |
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1766133813557067776 |