Food-web complexity across hydrothermal vents on the Azores triple junction

Portail, Marie; Brandily, Christophe; Cathalot, Cécile; Colaço, Ana; Gélinas, Yves; Husson, Bérengère; Sarradin, Pierre‐Marie; Sarrazin, Jozée

doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2017.11.010

Cited by 33 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 109 publications

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“…δ 15 N can reflect two large inorganic sources with very different isotopic compositions in chemosynthetic environments, that is, nitrates (δ 15 N = 5–7‰) and ammonium (δ 15 N < 0‰; Lee and Childress 1996). In contrast, photosynthetic‐derived organic matter shows δ 13 C values ranging from −24 to −22‰ and δ 15 N values from 4 to 6‰ in the study area (Portail et al 2018). Finally, values of δ 34 S between ~16‰ and 19‰ were considered representative of organic matter of photosynthetic origin, whereas values around and below 10‰ were considered of chemosynthetic origin (Reid et al 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Results were qualitatively compared to values considered representative of different biogeochemical reactions. They included multiple chemosynthetic pathways such as methane oxidation (δ 13 C ranging from −15‰ to −10‰), reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle‐based sulfide oxidation (δ 13 C = −12.9 ± 3.4‰), and Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) cycle‐based sulfide oxidation (δ 13 C ranging from −36‰ to −30‰; Portail et al 2018 and references therein). δ 15 N can reflect two large inorganic sources with very different isotopic compositions in chemosynthetic environments, that is, nitrates (δ 15 N = 5–7‰) and ammonium (δ 15 N < 0‰; Lee and Childress 1996).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Alfaro-Lucas

Pradillon

Zeppilli

et al. 2020

Ecology

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Productivity and environmental stress are major drivers of multiple biodiversity facets and faunal community structure. Little is known on their interacting effects on early community assembly processes in the deep sea (>200 m), the largest environment on Earth. However, at hydrothermal vents productivity correlates, at least partially, with environmental stress. Here, we studied the colonization of rock substrata deployed along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient at four sites with and without direct influence of vent fluids at 1,700‐m depth in the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid‐Atlantic Ridge [MAR]). We examined in detail the composition of faunal communities (>20 μm) established after 2 yr and evaluated species and functional patterns. We expected the stressful hydrothermal activity to (1) limit functional diversity and (2) filter for traits clustering functionally similar species. However, our observations did not support our hypotheses. On the contrary, our results show that hydrothermal activity enhanced functional diversity. Moreover, despite high species diversity, environmental conditions at surrounding sites appear to filter for specific traits, thereby reducing functional richness. In fact, diversity in ecological functions may relax the effect of competition, allowing several species to coexist in high densities in the reduced space of the highly productive vent habitats under direct fluid emissions. We suggest that the high productivity at fluid‐influenced sites supports higher functional diversity and traits that are more energetically expensive. The presence of exclusive species and functional entities led to a high turnover between surrounding sites. As a result, some of these sites contributed more than expected to the total species and functional β diversities. The observed faunal overlap and energy links (exported productivity) suggest that rather than operating as separate entities, habitats with and without influence of hydrothermal fluids may be considered as interconnected entities. Low functional richness and environmental filtering suggest that surrounding areas, with their very heterogeneous species and functional assemblages, may be especially vulnerable to environmental changes related to natural and anthropogenic impacts, including deep‐sea mining.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Alfaro-Lucas

Pradillon

Zeppilli

et al. 2020

Ecology

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“…Perner et al (2007) and Perner et al (2013) further described the capacity of this species to form dense beds in either sulfide-rich or hydrogen-rich and methane-rich lowflow conditions. By revealing functional similarity in trophic networks from different Mid-Atlantic Ridge vent fields hosting B. azoricus assemblages, Portail et al (2018) suggested that the trophic flexibility of these symbioses would take advantage of relatively stable conditions, independently of the nature of available geofuels. The factors that limit the production of biomass by these invertebrates, and the free-living microbial communities that grow within the biogenic habitat they form, however, rely on complex biotic interactions that needs to be accounted for in addition to abiotic constraints (Perner et al, 2013).…”

Section: Production Of Chemosynthetic Resources On Stable and Inactivmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrothermal Energy Transfer and Organic Carbon Production at the Deep Seafloor

et al. 2019

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“…Proximity to fluid exits might also explain why crabs were rarely observed on medium-sized and small mussel assemblages, both located in colder habitats. Moreover, isotopic analyses have identified S. mesatlantica as both a predator and scavenger, suggesting that crabs could be opportunistically feeding on microbial filaments, smaller organisms associated with mussel assemblages and, occasionally, on the mussels themselves (Colaço et al, 2002;De Busserolles et al, 2009;Portail et al, 2018). Due to their abundance, which was likely underestimated because those within mussel assemblages were difficult to Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mirocaris fortunata, the dominant species in these assemblages is common throughout the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and can withstand temperatures of up to 36°C (Shillito et al 2006). This tolerance may explain shrimps' proximity to fluid exits, allowing them to feed on freeliving microorganisms entrained by hydrothermal fluid or prey on species associated with nearby mussel assemblages (De Busserolles et al 2009, Portail et al 2018.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Currents and topography drive assemblage distribution on an active hydrothermal edifice

Girard

Sarrazin

Arnaubec

et al. 2020

Progress in Oceanography

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The deep sea is characterized by a wide range of landscapes, including complex features where topography and currents interact to form highly heterogeneous habitats. In addition to a complex topography, hydrothermal vent environments are characterized by strong environmental gradients that structure the spatial distribution of biological communities. The role of vent fluid temperature and chemical composition on species distribution is now well understood, but investigations on the effects of the complex sulfide edifice topography are scarce. Here, we used a novel approach combining 3D photogrammetric reconstruction, in situ environmental measurements and modeling to characterize assemblage distribution on the active edifice Eiffel Tower (Lucky Strike, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Through the analysis of a high-resolution 3D model of the edifice, we show that assemblage distribution along with hydrothermal activity vary with their position on the edifice. Although physical terrain variables had a minor effect on assemblage distribution, the distance from fluid exits explained the distribution of most assemblages. However, these particular variables did not significantly explain the distribution of medium-sized Bathymodiolus azoricus mussels, the dominant assemblage on the edifice. Similarly, proximity to fluid exits only partially accounted for the distribution of microbial mats throughout the edifice. By modeling the current-driven dispersion of hydrothermal plumes around the edifice, we demonstrated that differences in mussel sizes may be due to differences in exposure time to currents bringing plume material. For the first time, we provide evidence that hydrothermal plumes can affect faunal assemblages meters away from fluid exits and that this relatively long-distance effect of vent plumes can fully account for microbial mat distribution throughout the edifice. Our findings extend the area of influence of hydrothermal plumes on vent communities considerably beyond previous estimations and suggest that the interactions between bottom currents, topography and smoker locations should be further investigated and considered as important structuring factors at vents. This novel approach, allowing to cover large areas of the seafloor, is particularly well suited for deep environments where topography and currents interact to form complex oceanographic patterns (e.g. canyons, seamounts). Its application to larger areas and various ecosystems can significantly enhance our understanding of benthic communities' distribution at large.

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Food-web complexity across hydrothermal vents on the Azores triple junction

Cited by 33 publications

References 109 publications

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Hydrothermal Energy Transfer and Organic Carbon Production at the Deep Seafloor

Currents and topography drive assemblage distribution on an active hydrothermal edifice

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