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Biodiversity patterns, environmental drivers and indicator species on a high-temperature hydrothermal edifice, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Sarrazin, J.; Legendre, P.; de Busserolles, F.; Fabri, M.-C.; Guilini, K.; Ivanenko, V.N.; Morineaux, M.; Vanreusel, A.; Sarradin, P.-M. (2015). Biodiversity patterns, environmental drivers and indicator species on a high-temperature hydrothermal edifice, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 121: 177-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.04.013
In: Deep-Sea Research, Part II. Topical Studies in Oceanography. Pergamon: Oxford. ISSN 0967-0645; e-ISSN 1879-0100
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 289264 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Hydrothermal vents
    Meiofauna
    Taxa > Species > Indicator species
    Amathys lutzi Desbruyères & Laubier, 1996 [WoRMS]; Bathymodiolus azoricus Cosel & Comtet, 1999 [WoRMS]; [WoRMS]; Chorocaris chacei (Williams & Rona, 1986) [WoRMS]; Lepetodrilus fucensis J. H. McLean, 1988 [WoRMS]; Protolira valvatoides Warén & Bouchet, 1993 [WoRMS]
    A, Mid-Atlantic Ridge [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Biodiversity patterns; Environmental drivers; Macrofauna; Lucky Strike

Authors  Top 
  • Sarrazin, J.
  • Legendre, P.
  • de Busserolles, F.
  • Fabri, M.-C.
  • Guilini, K.
  • Ivanenko, V.N.
  • Morineaux, M.
  • Vanreusel, A.
  • Sarradin, P.-M.

Abstract
    Knowledge on quantitative faunal distribution patterns of hydrothermal communities in slow-spreading vent fields is particularly scarce, despite the importance of these ridges in the global mid-ocean system. This study assessed the composition, abundance and diversity of 12 benthic faunal assemblages from various locations on the Eiffel Tower edifice (Lucky Strike vent field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and investigated the role of key environmental conditions (temperature, total dissolved iron (TdFe), sulfide (TdS), copper (TdCu) and pH) on the distribution of macro- and meiofaunal species at small spatial scales (<1 m). There were differences in macro- and meiofaunal community structure between the different sampling locations, separating the hydrothermal community of the Eiffel Tower edifice into three types of microhabitats: (1) cold microhabitats characterized by low temperatures (<6°C), high TdCu (up to 2.4±1.37 µmol 1-1), high pH (up to 7.34±0.13) but low TdS concentrations (<6.98±5.01 µmol l-1); (2) warm microhabitats characterized by warmer temperatures (>6°C), low pH (<6.5) and high TdS/TdFe concentrations (>12.8 µmol l-1/>1.1 µmol l-1 respectively); and (3) the third microhabitat characterized by intermediate abiotic conditions. Environmental conditions showed more variation in the warm microhabitats than in the cold microhabitats. In terms of fauna, the warm microhabitats had lower macro- and meiofaunal densities, and lower richness and Shannon diversity than the cold microhabitats. Six macrofaunal species (Branchipolynoe seepensis, Amathys lutzi, Bathymodiolus azoricus, Lepetodrilus fucensis, Protolira valvatoides and Chorocaris chacei) and three meiofaunal taxa (Paracanthonchus, Cephalochaetosoma and Microlaimus) were identified as being significant indicator species/taxa of particular microhabitats. Our results also highlight very specific niche separation for copepod juveniles among the different hydrothermal microhabitats. Some sampling units showed unique faunal composition and increased beta diversity on the Eiffel Tower edifice. Contrary to what was expected, the highest beta diversity was not associated with a particular microhabitat type, but rather with location on the central part of the edifice where other structuring factors may predominate.

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