Phytopigments as biomarkers of selectivity in abyssal holothurians; interspecific differences in response to a changing food supply

FitzGeorge-Balfour, Tania; Billett, David; Wolff, George A.; Thompson, A.; Tyler, Paul A.

doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.01.013

Cited by 39 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…Elsewhere, the sudden increase of Amperima rosea in the PAP in 2002 (known as the "Amperima Event"), has tentatively been attributed to inter-annual variability in the supply of organic matter from the sea surface . Elpidiids or members of the Amperima/Peniagone complex are among those deep-sea organisms that select the freshest type of phytodetritus (FitzGeorge-Balfour et al, 2010). Hence, accumulated labile organic matter in the channel could well explain higher abundances of these species, but how exactly these organisms aggregate (e.g.…”

Section: Benthic Megafaunamentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic matter enrichment in the Whittard Channel; its origin and possible effects on benthic megafauna

Amaro

Stigter

Lavaleye

et al. 2015

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

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Section: Benthic Megafaunamentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic matter enrichment in the Whittard Channel; its origin and possible effects on benthic megafauna

Amaro

Stigter

Lavaleye

et al. 2015

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

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“…The North Atlantic Oscillation, for example, was linked to POC fluxes to the seafloor with a time lag of several months [45], as well as to megafauna community composition [40]. Notably, the observed ecosystem changes at PAP were linked with qualitative variations in the biochemistry of Particulate Organic Matter (POM) [39], which are believed to be critical to the reproductive and recruitment success of key species such as Amperima rosea [46]. Significant changes in bentho-pelagic fish distributions were also seen in area extending from Porcupine Abyssal Plain into the Porcupine Seabight [47].…”

Section: Porcupine Abyssal Plainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic Biology Time-Series in the Deep Sea: Indicators of Change

Larkin¹,

Ruhl²,

Bagley³

et al. 2010

Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society

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The responsiveness of benthic biological communities to climatic drivers and shifts makes them powerful indicators of biogeochemical and other environmental change in the oceans. In addition, benthic ecosystems have an economic value and are considered a vital marine resource. However deep-sea faunal dynamics and ecosystem functioning is not well defined. This has placed a higher priority in recent years on developing and sustaining long-term, time-series studies of benthic biodiversity, rate processes, and ecosystem change in deep-sea and extreme habitats. A few key long-term time-series sites exist across the global Ocean. Many of these sites are reviewed in this paper. However, much of the existing research is uncoordinated and the data collected are not integrated or standardized. This currently limits the use of these valuable datasets, which could be used for benthic modeling, global model validation and other societal benefits related to more effective and environmentally sustainable governance of human activities in the deep ocean. Furthermore, the time scales that can be studied within existing research frameworks are not currently sufficient to adequately address internationally-identified science priorities. These include assessing regional and global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the links between climate, terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In addition, the contribution of deep-sea ecosystems to global biogeochemical cycles and the potential alteration to ecosystem value and services due to anthropogenic activities is largely unknown. In order to maximize the societal benefit, biological time-series, in particular deep-sea sites, urgently require more coordination, integration, sustained funding and infrastructure. This is necessary to unify research methodologies, create synergies in the use of deep-sea technology, develop benthic models, and to stimulate more collaboration between programmes. National and international research organizations may provide a suitable framework within which further advances can be achieved. Only then will we better understand the goods and services provided by deep-sea ecosystems and the potential for environmentally sustainable exploitation of the deep ocean.

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“…and Amperima sp. (Wigham et al, 2003;FitzGeorge-Balfour et al, 2010). It will be interesting to find out how strong the correlation between size class and fresh phytodetritus uptake is when other feeding types, such as the fermenters Psychropotes longicauda and Pseudostichopus villosus (Roberts et al, 2001), conveyor belt feeders or funnel feeders (Massin, 1982), are included.…”

Section: Size-class Dependent Uptake Of Phytodetritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Has Phytodetritus Processing by an Abyssal Soft-Sediment Community Recovered 26 Years after an Experimental Disturbance?

et al. 2018

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The potential harvest of polymetallic nodules will heavily impact the abyssal, soft sediment ecosystem by removing sediment, hard substrate, and associated fauna inside mined areas. It is therefore important to know whether the ecosystem can recover from this disturbance and if so at which rate. The first objective of this study was to measure recovery of phytodetritus processing by the benthic food web from a sediment disturbance experiment in 1989. The second objective was to determine the role of holothurians in the uptake of fresh phytodetritus by the benthic food web. To meet both objectives, large benthic incubation chambers (CUBEs; 50 × 50 × 50 cm) were deployed inside plow tracks (with and without holothurian presence) and at a reference site (holothurian presence, only) at 4100 m water depth. Shortly after deployment, 13 C-and 15 N-labeled phytodetritus was injected in the incubation chambers and during the subsequent 3-day incubation period, water samples were taken five times to measure the production of 13 C-dissolved inorganic carbon over time. At the end of the incubation, holothurians and sediment samples were taken to determine biomass, densities and incorporation of 13 C and 15 N into bacteria, nematodes, macrofauna, and holothurians. For the first objective, the results showed that biomass of bacteria, nematodes and macrofauna did not differ between reference sites and plow track sites when holothurians were present. Additionally, meiofauna and macrofauna taxonomic composition was not significantly different between the sites. In contrast, total 13 C uptake by bacteria, nematodes and holothurians was significantly lower at plow track sites compared to reference sites, though the number of replicates was low. This result suggests that important ecosystem functions such as organic matter processing have not fully recovered from the disturbance that occurred 26 years prior to our study. For the second objective, the analysis indicated that holothurians incorporated 2.16 × 10 −3 mmol labile phytodetritus C m −2 d −1 into their biomass, which is one order of Stratmann et al.Phytodetritus Processing after Experimental Disturbance magnitude less as compared to bacteria, but 1.3 times higher than macrofauna and one order of magnitude higher than nematodes. Additionally, holothurians incorporated more phytodetritus carbon per unit biomass than macrofauna and meiofauna, suggesting a size-dependence in phytodetritus carbon uptake.

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Phytopigments as biomarkers of selectivity in abyssal holothurians; interspecific differences in response to a changing food supply

Cited by 39 publications

References 52 publications

Organic matter enrichment in the Whittard Channel; its origin and possible effects on benthic megafauna

Organic matter enrichment in the Whittard Channel; its origin and possible effects on benthic megafauna

Benthic Biology Time-Series in the Deep Sea: Indicators of Change

Has Phytodetritus Processing by an Abyssal Soft-Sediment Community Recovered 26 Years after an Experimental Disturbance?

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