Clearance rate of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator taxa from Norway, Acesta excavata, Lophelia pertusa, Geodia barretti, Phakellia ventilabrum and Stryphnus sp.

• Main Authors: Liefmann, Stephanie, Kutti, Tina, Hennige, Sebastian, Roberts, J Murray
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA
• Subjects: ATLAS; A Trans-Atlantic assessment and deep-water ecosystem-based spatial management plan for Europe; Clearance rate; Cold water corals; Competition; VME; Lophelia pertusa
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.921500

Clearance rate was measured for Acesta excavata, Lophelia pertusa, Geodia barretti, Phakellia ventilabrum and Stryphnus sp. under laboratory conditions at the Austevoll research station from the Institute of Marine Research, Norway between February and June 2018. The different species were given natural occurring seston in flow-through systems, as described in Strohmeier et al. (2009) under different flow speeds. Particle amount in the water entering and exciting the experimental system was measured using a particle counter system (PAMAS Partikelmess- und Analysesystem) and flow cytometry. G. barretti and Stryphnus sp. specimens were collected from Nakken reef (59°49'53" N, 5°33'44" E DMS) and Langenuen Fjord (60°00'37" N, 5°19'14" E DMS). The sponge P. ventilabrum was collected from Korsfjorden (60º9'46.8" N, 05º10'24" E DMS). L. pertusa and A. excavata were collected from the Nakken reef (59°49'53" N, 5°33'44" E DMS).