Anthropogenic influence on sediment transport in the Whittard Canyon, NE Atlantic

Wilson, Annette M.; Kiriakoulakis, Kostas; Raine, Robin; Gerritsen, H.D.; Blackbird, Sabena; Allcock, A. Louise; White, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.067

Cited by 29 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…During a survey in 2013, concentrations of SPM in enhanced nepheloid layers (ENLs) were significantly higher (typical an order of magnitude) than the mean maximum in nepheloid layers normally observed in the Whittard Canyon (Wilson et al, 2015a). Wilson et al (2015b) showed that vessel monitoring system (VMS) data indicated high spatial and temporal activity of trawling vessels coinciding with the occurrence of ENLs. Although only one study, the data would suggest that bottom trawling on the smooth adjacent spurs is triggering sediment gravity flows at the steeper rims of the canyon.…”

Section: Solenosmilia Variabilismentioning

confidence: 96%

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The Whittard Canyon – A case study of submarine canyon processes

Amaro

Huvenne

Allcock

et al. 2016

Progress in Oceanography

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Section: Solenosmilia Variabilismentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Martín et al, 2008;Puig et al, 2012;. Recently, evidence has been presented suggesting that trawling similarly may influence SPM concentrations at the Whittard Canyon (Wilson et al, 2015b).…”

Section: Solenosmilia Variabilismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Whittard Canyon – A case study of submarine canyon processes

Amaro

Huvenne

Allcock

et al. 2016

Progress in Oceanography

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“…In Whittard Canyon (NE Atlantic), unusual peaks in nepheloid layers with much higher concentrations of suspended particulate matter (∼1-8 mg L −1 ) than normal (∼0.075-0.5 mg L −1 ) have been observed (Wilson et al, 2015b). Using VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) data from fishing vessels at Whittard Canyon, these peaks were linked to trawling activity (Wilson et al, 2015a). The direct and indirect impacts of trawling can affect coldwater corals and sponge fields.…”

Section: Direct and Indirect Effects Of Fishingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Role of Submarine Canyons and Need for Canyon Conservation: A Review

et al. 2017

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Submarine canyons are major geomorphic features of continental margins around the world. Several recent multidisciplinary projects focused on the study of canyons have considerably increased our understanding of their ecological role, the goods, and services they provide to human populations, and the impacts that human activities have on their overall ecological condition. Pressures from human activities include fishing, dumping of land-based mine tailings, and oil and gas extraction. Moreover, hydrodynamic processes of canyons enhance the down-canyon transport of litter. The effects of climate change may modify the intensity of currents. This potential hydrographic change is predicted to impact the structure and functioning of canyon communities as well as affect nutrient supply to the deep-ocean ecosystem. This review not only identifies the ecological status of canyons, and current and future issues for canyon conservation, but also highlights the need for a better understanding of anthropogenic impacts on canyon ecosystems and proposes other research required to inform management measures to protect canyon ecosystems.

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“…In addition, the rough topography can also protect these vulnerable cold-water coral ecosystems from threats such as commercial bottom trawling. However, such activities also lead to other effects, such as increased suspended particulate matter and change in organic content (Puig et al, 2012;Wilson, Kiriakoulakis, et al, 2015). Although many CWC are tolerant of moderate to high sedimentation rates (Brooke, Holmes, & Young, 2009), it has been suggested that reduced sediment accumulation on vertical walls could be beneficial for feeding ability and larvae survival (Brooke & Ross, 2014;Brooke et al, 2017), and anthropogenic changes to such processes could have unknown effects on vertical wall assemblages.…”

Section: Conservation Importancementioning

confidence: 99%

Cold‐water coral assemblages on vertical walls from the Northeast Atlantic

Robert

Jones

Georgiopoulou

et al. 2019

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim In this study, we assess patterns of cold‐water coral assemblages observed on deep‐sea vertical walls. Similar to their shallow‐water counterparts, vertical and overhanging walls in the deep sea can host highly diverse communities, but because of their geometry, these habitats are generally overlooked and remain poorly known. These vertical habitats are however of particular interest, because they can protect vulnerable coral ecosystems from trawling activities. As such, it is important to understand their ecology and assess their global importance. Location Vertical walls on complex geomorphic features, in particular walls of the Rockall Bank Slope Failure Escarpment, Whittard and Explorer Canyons, Northeast Atlantic. Methods Video analysis of remotely operated vehicle transects carried out at five sites is used to investigate differences in species composition and diversity across walls and to compare those to nearby cold‐water coral sites on flat terrain. A high‐resolution photogrammetric reconstruction is further employed to examine whether wall complexity plays a role in promoting niche differentiation at very fine spatial scales. Results The investigated walls showed differences in species assemblage both across walls and in comparison to flat sites, with the fine‐scale heterogeneity engendered by walls allowing niche differentiation between closely related taxa. Main Conclusions Vertical walls represent an important cold‐water coral habitat with differences in species composition across walls within a region, illustrating their role in driving diversity patterns. Based on publicly available bathymetric datasets and a catalogue of broad‐scale terrain features, globally over 8,000 features are likely to have vertical walls and cold‐water corals, which highlight the need to consider deep‐sea vertical habitats in current conservation efforts.

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Anthropogenic influence on sediment transport in the Whittard Canyon, NE Atlantic

Cited by 29 publications

References 51 publications

The Whittard Canyon – A case study of submarine canyon processes

The Whittard Canyon – A case study of submarine canyon processes

Ecological Role of Submarine Canyons and Need for Canyon Conservation: A Review

Cold‐water coral assemblages on vertical walls from the Northeast Atlantic

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