Preliminary biological characterization of the Saldanha hydrothermal field at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (36 degrees 34 ' N, 32 degrees 26 ' W, 2200 m)
| Type | Article | ||||||||
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| Date | 2006-12 | ||||||||
| Language | English | ||||||||
| Author(s) | Biscoito M1, Almeida A2, Segonzac Michel3 | ||||||||
| Affiliation(s) | 1 : IMAR, Estacao Biol Marinha Funchal, P-9000107 Madeira, Portugal. 2 : Univ Lisbon, Fac Ciencias, DBA, Lab Maritimo Guia,IMAR, P-2750642 Cascais, Portugal. 3 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, DEEP, F-29280 Plouzane, France. |
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| Source | Cahiers de Biologie Marine (0007-9723) (Station Biologique de Roscoff), 2006-12 , Vol. 47 , N. 4 , P. 421-427 | ||||||||
| WOS© Times Cited | 2 | ||||||||
| Keyword(s) | New records, Antimora, Acanthonus, Fish, Sponge, Bathyal megafauna, Gastropoda, Fauna assemblage, Mid Atlantic Ridge, Hydrothermal vents | ||||||||
| Abstract | A preliminary description of the biology of the Saldanha hydrothermal field in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (36 degrees 34'N, 32 degrees 26'W, 2200 m) is given, based on direct observation, video images and samples. Venting occurs mainly in a diffuse way through sediment, but hydrothermal fluid discharges are visible through centimeter-long orifices, scattered on the sediment, over an area of approximately 400 m(2), at depths between 2,200 and 2,220 metres. Emitted fluids are transparent, with a temperature of 7-9 degrees C. An almost complete absence of macro- and megafauna around the venting orifices was found. The only vent invertebrate identified was the gastropod Phymorhynchus sp., with only two juvenile specimens caught. A careful examination of the images taken at these orifices showed bacteria-like filaments undulating with fluid discharge. At the level of the benthic bathyal megafauna the dominant species seemed to be the sponge Cinachyra sp. (Demospongiae, Spirophorida, Tetillidae). At least 4 species of fish are new records from the area. | ||||||||
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