Long-term maintenance and public exhibition of deep-sea Hydrothermal fauna: the AbyssBox project

Type Article
Date 2015-11
Language English
Author(s) Shillito Bruce1, 2, Ravaux Juliette1, 2, Sarrazin JozeeORCID3, Zbinden Magali1, 2, Sarradin Pierre-MarieORCID3, Barthelemy Dominique4
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 04, CNRS, Adaptat Milieux Extremes,UMR 7208, F-75252 Paris 5, France.
2 : Biol ORganismes & Ecosyst Aquat BOREA, MNHN, CNRS, UMR 7208, F-75005 Paris, France.
3 : IFREMER, Ctr Bretagne, REM EEP, Inst Carnot EDROME,Lab Environm Profond, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
4 : Port Plaisance Moulin Blanc, Oceanopolis, F-29210 Brest 1, France.
Source Deep-sea Research Part Ii-topical Studies In Oceanography (0967-0645) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2015-11 , Vol. 121 , P. 137-145
DOI 10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.05.002
WOS© Times Cited 16
Note Exploring New Frontiers in Deep-Sea Research: In Honor and Memory of Peter A. Rona
Keyword(s) AbyssBox, Aquaria, Aquariology, Deep waters, Hydrostatic pressure, Hydrothermal vents, Public exhibition, Scientific experiments
Abstract The AbyssBox project aims to provide the first permanent public exhibition of live deep-sea hydrothermal fauna maintained at in situ pressure. AbyssBox is a pressurized aquarium designed to function permanently. Here we present details of the project after the public exhibition functioned for more than three years at Océanopolis aquarium in Brest, France. We also describe the AbyssBox pressure aquarium, and provide data and observations on vent shrimp (Mirocaris fortunata) and crabs (Segonzacia mesatlantica) that were sampled from 1700 m depth at the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) during different cruises. While mortalities exceeded 50% during the first days following sampling, the remaining animals appeared to acclimate fairly well. Some crabs have now been kept for more than 2 years, and some shrimp have spent more than 3 years in captivity. Primarily designed for a public exhibition, the AbyssBox is already used for scientific purposes, since it provides one of the most effective tools for long-term rearing of deep-sea fauna. AbyssBox is a first step towards maintaining a variety of deep-sea fauna year-round at in situ pressure, which will serve both scientific and public interests.
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Shillito Bruce, Ravaux Juliette, Sarrazin Jozee, Zbinden Magali, Sarradin Pierre-Marie, Barthelemy Dominique (2015). Long-term maintenance and public exhibition of deep-sea Hydrothermal fauna: the AbyssBox project. Deep-sea Research Part Ii-topical Studies In Oceanography, 121, 137-145. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.05.002 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00268/37967/