ATLAS Deliverable 2.2: Integrated physiological experiments and models

• Main Authors: Carreiro-Silva, M, Orejas, C, Rakka, M, Lieffman, S, de Froe, E, Vad, J, Maier, S, Bilan, M, Godinho, A, Martins, I, Puerta, P, Hennige, S, Henry, TB, Roberts, JM, Soetaert, K, van Oevelen, D
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Norway; Ocean acidification; Rotifer
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/4658276; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4658276

A major objective of ATLAS is to produce a new class of predictive modelling tools that integrates food supply and biogeochemical cycling for mapping deep-sea species and ecosystems at management relevant spatial scales. To produce these models it is necessary to integrate field data on hydrodynamic conditions, organic matter concentration and settling flux to the seafloor with ex situ aquarium studies conducted to determine how deep-sea organisms respond to altered food supply regimes and changes in ocean conditions, such as ocean acidification. Here we report results of the ex-situ experiments using scleractinian corals, black corals, octocorals, bivalves and sponges conducted by different ATLAS partners and then use this data together with data available from the literature (DL 2.1) to produce physiological models for selected cold-water coral and sponge species. Four types of experiments were carried out to: (1) Assess the capacity of selected CWC species to capture live zooplankton prey under different hydrodynamic conditions (section 3.1). For this purpose, a set of experiments were performed in the Azores (section 3.1.1) and Norway (section 3.1.2). Experiments in the Azores tested capture rate efficiency of the black coral Antipathella wollastoni and the gorgonians Viminella flagellum and Dentomuricea meteor using the rotifer Branchionus plicatilis as prey under flow velocities of 1.5, 4 and 6 cm/sec for the black coral and 3, 6 and 9 cm/sec for the gorgonians, using laminar flow experimental flumes. Results obtained for A. wollastoni show the capacity for this species to consume high amounts of prey and this capacity seems to be enhanced in intermediate flow velocities (4cm/sec). This explain the natural abundance of A. wollastoni in crevices protected from strong currents. Experimental results obtained for the gorgonians, demonstrated higher capture rates per polyp for V. flagellum, with maximum capture rates at 6 cm/sec, compared with D. meteor with maximum capture rates at 9cm/sec. These results may ...