3519008
doi
10.1016/j.dsr.2019.103137
oai:zenodo.org:3519008
user-sponges
user-eu
Roberts, E. M.
Department of Biological Sciences and K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep-sea Research, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
Rapp, H. T.
Department of Biological Sciences and K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep-sea Research, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway; NORCE, Norwegian Research Centre, NORCE Environment, Nygårdsgaten 112, 5008, Bergen, Norway
Davies, A. J.
chool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
Spatial patterns of arctic sponge ground fauna and demersal fish are detectable in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) imagery
Meyer, H.K.
Department of Biological Sciences and K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep-sea Research, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
url:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063719302833?via%3Dihub#sec5
doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.906904
url:https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0967063719302833-mmc1.docx
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Arctic mid-ocean ridge
Autonomous underwater vehicle
Deep sea
Demersal fish
Seamount
Sponge ground
European Union
Horizon 2020
Deep-sea Sponge Grounds Ecosystems of the North Atlantic: An integrated approach towards their preservation and sustainable exploitation
SponGES
Grant Agreement No 679849
<p>ABSTRACT. Deep-sea sponge grounds are important habitats that provide several ecosystem services, yet relatively little is known about their distribution and ecology. While most surveys have focused on the broad-scale distribution patterns of sponge grounds (100s–1000s m), only rarely have the finer-scale (<10 m) spatial distribution patterns of the primary organisms been studied. In this study, the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) <em>Hugin 1000</em> was used to map an area of an arctic sponge ground located on the summit of the Schulz Bank (Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge), with the aim of detecting small-scale spatial patterns produced by the dominant megafauna. Using low-light cameras to construct a photomosaic comprising of 9,953 images and a virtual quadrat spatial sampling approach, density hotspots of the most prominent megafauna were visualized. The primary megafauna detected were demosponges, hexactinellids, ascidians, cnidarians, echinoderms, and demersal fish species. Most megafauna, like the primary structure-forming sponge species <em>Geodia parva</em> and <em>Stelletta rhaphidiophora,</em> were distributed evenly throughout the sample area, though species like <em>Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) complicata</em> and <em>Gersemia rubiformis</em> displayed clear fine-scale spatial preferences. The three demersal fish species, <em>Macrourus berglax</em>, <em>Reinhardtius hippoglossoides</em>, and <em>Amblyraja hyperborea</em>, were uniformly distributed throughout the sample area. Based on the presence of skate egg cases and juveniles within many images, it is likely that the site is being used as a nursery ground for <em>A. hyperborea</em>. This study demonstrates the potential of using AUVs to detect fine-scale spatial patterns of the structure-forming sponges and demersal fish species. The use of AUVs for deep-water benthic surveys can help visualize how fauna (e.g. fish) utilise deep-sea habitats, and act as a tool for quantifying individuals through relatively unbiased means (e.g. pre-programmed track, no sampling). Such information is crucial for future conservation and management efforts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>HIGHLIGHTS.</p>
<p>• AUVs are a useful tool to reveal small-scale spatial patterns of benthic fauna.</p>
<p>• 20 morphotaxa from 5 phyla were detectable within the AUV imagery.</p>
<p>• Some megafauna showed distinct patchiness, likely influenced by biotic influences.</p>
<p>• All demersal fish had even distribution in the sample area.</p>
<p>• Abundance of Arctic Skate eggs suggests seamount summit to be a nursery area.</p>
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT. The datasets presented in this article are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.906904.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The work leading to this publication has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through the SponGES project (grant agreement No 679849). This document reflects only the authors' view and the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The University of Bergen, Bangor University, and the crew of RV G.O. Sars are acknowledged for their contribution to the project for collecting and providing the AUV imagery data for processing. Gokul Raj Krishna is recognised for assisting in the initial processing of the fish survey.
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. Multimedia: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0967063719302833-mmc1.docx
Zenodo
2019-10-10
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
3519007
user-sponges
user-eu
award_title=Deep-sea Sponge Grounds Ecosystems of the North Atlantic: an integrated approach towards their preservation and sustainable exploitation; award_number=679849; award_identifiers_scheme=url; award_identifiers_identifier=https://cordis.europa.eu/projects/679849; funder_id=00k4n6c32; funder_name=European Commission;
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md5:a8c7509781ea269d70ba3c0468ece9f9
https://zenodo.org/records/3519008/files/Meyer_2019_1-s2.0-S0967063719302833-main.pdf
public
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063719302833?via%3Dihub#sec5
Is derived from
url
10.1594/PANGAEA.906904
Is supplemented by
doi
https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0967063719302833-mmc1.docx
Is supplemented by
url
Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
2019-10-10