Van Gaever, S.; Vanreusel, A.; Hughes, J.; Bett, B.; Kiriakoulakis, K. (1999). The macro- and micro-scale patchiness of meiobenthos associated with the Darwin Mounds (north-east Atlantic). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 84(3): 547-556.

181422

10.1017/s0025315404009555h [view]

Van Gaever, S.; Vanreusel, A.; Hughes, J.; Bett, B.; Kiriakoulakis, K.

1999

84(3): 547-556

Publication

NeMys doc_id: 18004

Available for editors   [request]

Meiobenthic community structure was investigated at di¡erent spatial scales (from 100 metres to centimetres) on and adjacent to a group of coral-topped sandy mounds in the bathyal north-east Atlantic (Darwin Mounds, Rockall Trough) and related to the environmental conditions in the area, mainly di¡erences in sediment organic carbon content and presence of biogenic structures. Meiobenthos abundances were similar to those observed in other deep-sea sites, with nematodes representing at least 94% of the total community. The dominant nematode genera were Microlaimus, followed by Sabatieria, Richtersia, Rhynchonema and Trefusia, together with typical deep-sea genera (e.g. Halalaimus and Acantholaimus). Multivariate analysis of nematode generic relative abundances at the di¡erent stations indicated that there was no signi¢cant in£uence on distribution resulting from large scale topographic and biogeochemical conditions around the mounds. The same genera were associated with dead tests of the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima and in the surrounding sediments. The vertical distribution of nematodes on and adjacent to the mound showed some unusual features, as the deeper layers of the sediments were inhabited by stilbonematids. These genera harbour ectosymbiotic, chemoautotrophic bacteria and have not previously been recorded from the deep sea. The occurrence of stilbonematids in notable numbers in the subsurface layers of the sediments in the vicinity of the Darwin Mounds provides evidence for the occurrence of anoxic microenvironments.

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