Transcript mar-eco

MAR-ECO: PATTERNS AND PROCESSES OF THE
ECOSYSTEMS OF THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC
Ridge-associated non-vent macro-and megafauna
after Garrison, 1993
Scope of Project
The target area of
MAR-ECO is the midocean North Atlantic.
NOAA
A spin-off project is
being developed in the
South Atlantic based on
experience in the North.
This effort has currently
no ship-time
commitments!
Preliminary Synthesis Conclusions
• Ridge fauna mixture of elements from east
and west, but no strong cross-ridge
difference
• Species composition strongly depth-related
both in pelagic and benthic zones.
Preliminary Synthesis Conclusions
• Latitudinal diversity and distribution
patterns reflect watermass distributions.
• Strong influence of hydrographical frontal
zones.
• Concentration of benthopelagic nekton at
ridge slopes.
• Many species have full life cycles on ridge.
Self-sustaining populations?
Diversity
Taxa
Species
New species
Cetacea
Aves
Pisces
Hemichordata
Cephalopoda
Crustacea
Echinodermata
Chaetognatha
Annelida
Sipunculida
Ctenophora
Cnidaria
14
22
310
2
54
308
104
16
2
2
1
97
Porifera
14
2
TOTAL
946
22????
3
2
2
3
9
Comments
5 potential sp. nov.
New species observed but not collected
2 potential sp. nov.
1 new genus
1 new genus
What is the number of known / named species in
your realm or project domain? How many might
remain to be discovered (and how did you reach
that 1estimate)?
new sp. of genus Jacobia
3 first records for the Atlantic
Genus Dyctyaulus new record for Atl. Ocean, 1
potential new Genus
Diversity
Cottunculus tubulosus
Altelitepes falkenhaugae
Croznier and Vereschaka, 2007
Byrkjedal and Orlov,
2007
Photo: A. Orlov
Promachoteuthis
sloani Young ,
Vecchione &
Piatkowski 2006.
Paraliparis nigellus
Chernova and Møller, 2007
Abundance
•There is elevated abundance near the seabed, and in
oceanographic frontal zones.
• Insufficient basis for global or regional estimates of
abundance of ridge fauna.
• Current efforts are short-term and limited in spatial scale and
do not provide knowledge on seasonal variation except in few
locations using long-term lander observatories.
• Current cruises will provide abundance data and flux data
for frontal zone area of particular interest.
• Abundance estimation is not trivial for any pelagic or
demersal taxa inhabiting deep mid-ocean ridge waters.
Distribution
For known species most important to your
project, what major discoveries have been made
about their range or distribution? What is least
known with regards to their distribution that you
would like to know?
• MAR-ECO has faunal, not single species
focus.
• Taxon-specific accounts already published
for most major taxa.
• Population genetics project ongoing.
• Basin-wide analyses for some taxa.
Visualization & Communication
The midocean North
Atlantic
surrounded
by MAR-ECO
images
illustrating
the diversity
of organisms
and
technologies
and methods
required to
gain new
baseline
Illustration compiled by T. Wenneck, photos by D. Shale and MAR-ECO partners.
knowledge
Visualization & Communication
No Mid-Ocean Ridge
With Mid Ocean Ridge
After Priede et al. 2006
What is the significance of mid-ocean ridges for the oceanwide patterns of species composition, abundance and
production?
Visualization & Communication
Diversity of efforts and products
• Interactive presentation of deep-sea biology and project
activity.
• Google Earth (or Oceans) allowing public to visit study
sites to view ROV dives, images, texts
• MAR-ECO module of CoML animation project. Animated
ROV dive to spectacular ridge sites, including underwater
footage.
• And then: documentaries, popular books, website etc.
50°W
40°W
30°W
20°W
10°W
0°
Proposal
fromImpact
Norwayof
being
considered
Societal
Results
to Date
by NEAFC. Areas closed to bottom-touching
65°N
65°N
gears.
Iceland
Results have contributed to defining high-seas
habitats and communities in need of protection.
Information
used as basis for new proposals.
60°N
60°N
Northern area
Results were used in e.g. ICES WGs to evaluate
55°N areas and MPA proposals to NEAFC55°N
closed
and
OSPAR.
CGFZ and Subpolar front
50°N
50°N
Altair
45°N
Southern area
45°N
Antialtair
40°N
40°N
50°W
40°W
Azores
30°W
20°W
Source: NEAFC
0°
10°W
Limits to Knowledge
Unknown but knowable:
1. seasonal and interannual variation in
species composition and ranges.
2. understanding of relative significance of
different production processes.
3. scale and significance of human impacts.
Optical and acoustical observatory
technology and advanced long-term samplers
may enhance understanding of production
processes. Other items require repeated
observation programmes with
comprehensive sampling efforts.