Megafaunal assemblages in deep-sea ecosystems of the Gulf of Cadiz, northeast Atlantic ocean

• Published in: Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
• Main Authors: Grinyó Andreu, Jordi, Francescangeli, Marco, Santín Muriel, Andreu, Ercilla Zárraga, Gemma, Estrada Llacer, Ferran, Mecho, Ariadna, Fanelli, Emanuela, Costa, Corrado, Danovaro, Roberto, Company Claret, Joan Baptista, Sobrino Yraola, Ignacio, Valencia Martínez de Antoñana, Javier, Aguzzi, Jacopo
• Other Authors: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctorat en Ciències del Mar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Degradació ambiental; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Medi ambient::Ecologia; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Nàutica::Impacte ambiental; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Nàutica::Seguretat marítima::Contaminació marina; Marine fauna; Deep-sea fauna; Marine ecology; Benthic assemblages; deep-sea ecosystems; Gulf of Cadiz; vulnerable marine ecosystems; ROV imaging; Mar > Contaminació; Fauna marina; Fauna dels fons marins; Ecologia marina; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2117/365087; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2022.103738

Deep-sea ecosystems of the Iberian margin have been widely impacted over the past decades, but the limited knowledge on their biodiversity and functioning limits our ability to contribute to their conservation. So far, in the Gulf of Cadiz, research has mostly been focused on megabenthic assemblages associated to mud volcanoes. However, several other geomorphological structures have remained widely unexplored. Here, by means of a quantitative analysis of 17 video transects conducted between 220 and 980 m depth, we investigated mega- benthic assemblages associated to canyons, contouritic channels, contouritic furrows and open slopes. We report the presence of 8 different assemblages, segregated as a result of the different substrates and geomorphologic features. Megabenthic assemblages on hard substrates were characterized by mono or multispecific sponge as- semblages. Soft bottoms hosted crinoid beds, pennatulacean meadows and fields of the gorgonian Radicipes gracilis. These results highlight the high diversity of megabenthic assemblages in deep-sea ecosystems of the Gulf of Cadiz and suggest that most of the geomorphological features that remained so far unexplored represent vulnerable marine ecosystems deserving protection and inclusion in future management plans. Postprint (published version)