Rates and pathways of carbon turnover at the abyssal seafloor: a long-term, in situ experimental study.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
Abstract
Organisms at the deep-sea floor rely on particles sinking from the sea surface for food, which is correspondingly scarce and unpredictable - sometimes half of the annual food supply arrives within a few days. However, despite the enormous extent of this ecosystem (more than 50% of the Earth's surface is sea floor below 3,000 m of water), we know very little about how deep-sea organisms adapt and react to such a pulse. We therefore propose to investigate the fate of a food pulse at the abyssal sea floor in a series of short- and long-term manipulative experiments. With a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), we will sample natural particulate food at the deep-sea floor, label it with a tracer, add it to experimental chambers and plots, and follow its pathway through the community on time scales from days to months. We will focus our study on bacteria because they are more abundant than any other group of organisms in the deep-sea, and on larger organisms living in the sediment because these, through their foraging activities, transport the food into the sediment where also deep-living bacteria can access it. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Prof K Smith at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) during 5 process cruises on MBARI research vessel Western Flyer with the deep-sea ROV Tiburon on board.
Publications
Enge A
(2011)
Response of the benthic foraminiferal community to a simulated short-term phytodetritus pulse in the abyssal North Pacific
in Marine Ecology Progress Series
Jeffreys RM
(2013)
Feeding preferences of abyssal macrofauna inferred from in situ pulse chase experiments.
in PloS one
Moeseneder M
(2012)
Temporal and depth-related differences in prokaryotic communities in abyssal sediments associated with particulate organic carbon flux
in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Description | Rates and pathways of C turnover at the abyssal seafloor. The structure of the bacterial community in a deep-sea site that is one of only two study sites worldwide for which long-term data exist. We were also able to investigate, for the first time, the feeding preferences of abyssal macrofauna at this site. |
Exploitation Route | Understanding of deep-sea ecosystem functioning. Improved impact assessments and mitigation measures for deep-water resource extraction through above. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Energy Environment |
Description | OceanSmart |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on monitoring technologies suitable for Arctic, sparked lifely request with regulaotrs and policy makers afterwards. resulted in inclusion of in situ technologies into monitoring portfolio |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.oceaninnovation.ca/Themes/2013/Content/Venue/CityofRimouski/ |
Description | Primary School visits to Oceanlab |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Primary school visits - stimulated lively discussions on deep-sea protection and climate change Increased awareness of issues such as litter in deep-sea High number of pupils expressed an interest in a career as scientist |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |