Environmental variability and biodiversity of megabenthos on the Hebrides Terrace Seamount (Northeast Atlantic)

We present the first remotely operated vehicle investigation of megabenthic communities (1004–1695 m water depth) on the Hebrides Terrace Seamount (Northeast Atlantic). Conductivity-temperature-depth casts showed rapid light attenuation below the summit and an oceanographic regime on the flanks cons...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific Reports
Main Authors: Henry, Lea-Anne, Vad, Johanne, Findlay, Helen S., Murillo, Javier, Milligan, Rosanna, Roberts, J. Murray
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2014
Subjects:
Article
Hebrides Terrace Seamount
Rockall Trough
Northeast Atlantic
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4083264
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24998523
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05589
Description
Summary:We present the first remotely operated vehicle investigation of megabenthic communities (1004–1695 m water depth) on the Hebrides Terrace Seamount (Northeast Atlantic). Conductivity-temperature-depth casts showed rapid light attenuation below the summit and an oceanographic regime on the flanks consistent with an internal tide, and high short-term variability in water temperature, salinity, light attenuation, aragonite and oxygen down to 1500 m deep. Minor changes in species composition (3–14%) were explained by changes in depth, substratum and oceanographic stability, whereas environmental variability explained substantially more variation in species richness (40–56%). Two peaks in species richness occurred, the first at 1300–1400 m where cooler Wyville Thomson Overflow Water (WTOW) mixes with subtropical gyre waters and the second at 1500–1600 m where WTOW mixes with subpolar mode waters. Our results suggest that internal tides, substrate heterogeneity and oceanographic interfaces may enhance biological diversity on this and adjacent seamounts in the Rockall Trough.

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