Bathymetrical distribution and size structure of cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons (northwestern Mediterranean)

Gori, Andrea; Orejas, Covadonga; Madurell, Teresa; Bramanti, Lorenzo; Martins, Maria João; Quintanilla, Elena; Marti-Puig, Patricia; Iacono, Claudio Lo; Puig, Pere; Requena, Susana; Greenacre, Michael; Gili, Josep María

doi:10.5194/bg-10-2049-2013

Cited by 125 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…The fauna observed associated within the canyons studied here (see also Davies et al, this issue) have also been observed in the neighbouring Whittard Canyon , Morris, 2011and Morris et al, 2013 and other European canyon systems (Cartes et al, 2009 andGori et al, 2013). In general the observed fauna are also known from the wider area incorporating the Rockall Trough and neighbouring banks and seamounts, Porcupine Bank and Seabight (Bullimore et al, 2013, Howell et al, 2010a, Howell et al, 2010b, Narayanaswamy et al, 2013and Tyler and Zibrowius, 1992 and could not be considered to be unique to these canyon features.…”

Section: Canyon and Mini-mound Faunasupporting

confidence: 69%

The Dangeard and Explorer canyons, South Western Approaches UK: Geology, sedimentology and newly discovered cold-water coral mini-mounds

Stewart

Davies

Guinan

et al. 2014

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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The Celtic Margin is a complex area in terms of sedimentary dynamics and evolution, with a number of submarine canyons dissecting the continental slope and outer continental shelf. The complex terrain and diverse range of sea-bed sediments play a part in submarine canyons being described as areas of high habitat heterogeneity. This study has concentrated on the heads of two canyons: Dangeard (also known as Dangaard) and Explorer (first named here) located in UK territorial waters, in water depths between 138 and 1165 m. Multibeam echosounder, 2D reflection seismic and photographic ground-truthing data have been combined to map the sea-bed geomorphology, sedimentary features and canyon megafauna of these canyons. In addition, two previously unknown provinces of cold-water coral (CWC) mini-mounds were discovered on the interfluves of the Dangeard and Explorer canyons.The study area comprises a dendritic network of gullies feeding into the canyon thalwegs. Amphitheatre rims, where slope angles are commonly in excess of 20°, occur along the margins and heads of both canyons and are interpreted as drainage basins indicative of retrogressive mass-wasting in a shelfward direction.The CWC mini-mounds occur in water depths between 250 m and 410 m, with more than 400 mounds identified. They are up to 3 m in height and 50-150 m in diameter with no sub-surface expression, suggesting these mounds are, in geological terms, relatively young and possibly Holocene in age. Biological analyses revealed that the mounds form a habitat for ophiuroids and Munida associated with Lophelia pertusa coral rubble, suggesting these mini-mounds are not present-day living features.

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Section: Canyon and Mini-mound Faunasupporting

confidence: 69%

The Dangeard and Explorer canyons, South Western Approaches UK: Geology, sedimentology and newly discovered cold-water coral mini-mounds

Stewart

Davies

Guinan

et al. 2014

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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“…Similarly, distribution of corals and sponges at the heads of shelf-incising canyons seems to be related to strong currents that expose underlying bedrock in these areas (De Mol et al, 2011). At a smaller scale, steep features of exposed rock, such as vertical walls and overhangs, facilitate the settlement of the scleractinian corals L. pertusa and Madrepora oculata (Freiwald et al, 2009;Huvenne et al, 2011;Gori et al, 2013;Morris et al, 2013;Davies et al, 2014;Fabri et al, 2014).…”

Section: Canyon Effects On Benthic Sessile Fauna and Infaunamentioning

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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“…Sea Orejas et al, 2009;Fink et al, 2013;Gori et al, 2013) demonstrate the potential use of these technologies for future discoveries.…”

Section: Hebbeln Et Al: Environmental Forcing Of the Campeche Colmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental forcing of the Campeche cold-water coral province, southern Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2014

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Abstract.With an extension of > 40 km 2 the recently discovered Campeche cold-water coral province located at the northeastern rim of the Campeche Bank in the southern Gulf of Mexico belongs to the largest coherent cold-water coral areas discovered so far. The Campeche province consists of numerous 20-40 m-high elongated coral mounds that are developed in intermediate water depths of 500 to 600 m. The mounds are colonized by a vivid cold-water coral ecosystem that covers the upper flanks and summits. The rich coral community is dominated by the framework-building Scleractinia Enallopsammia profunda and Lophelia pertusa, while the associated benthic megafauna shows a rather scarce occurrence. The recent environmental setting is characterized by a high surface water production caused by a local upwelling center and a dynamic bottom-water regime comprising vigorous bottom currents, obvious temporal variability, and strong density contrasts, which all together provide optimal conditions for the growth of cold-water corals. This setting -potentially supported by the diel vertical migration of zooplankton in the Campeche area -controls the delivering of food particles to the corals. The Campeche cold-water coral province is, thus, an excellent example highlighting the importance of the oceanographic setting in securing the food supply for the development of large and vivid cold-water coral ecosystems.

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Bathymetrical distribution and size structure of cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons (northwestern Mediterranean)

Cited by 125 publications

References 77 publications

The Dangeard and Explorer canyons, South Western Approaches UK: Geology, sedimentology and newly discovered cold-water coral mini-mounds

The Dangeard and Explorer canyons, South Western Approaches UK: Geology, sedimentology and newly discovered cold-water coral mini-mounds

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

Environmental forcing of the Campeche cold-water coral province, southern Gulf of Mexico

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