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DOI

  • Ulrike Hanz
    Utrecht University
  • Emyr Martyn Roberts
    University of Bergen
  • Gerard Duineveld
    Utrecht University
  • Andrew Davies
    University of Rhode Island
  • Hans van Haren
    Utrecht University
  • Hans Tore Rapp
    University of Bergen
  • Gert-Jan Reichart
    Utrecht University
  • Furu Mienis
    Utrecht University
Deep-sea sponge grounds are hotspots of benthic biomass and diversity. To date, very limited data exist on the range of environmental conditions in areas containing deep-sea sponge grounds and which factors are driving their distribution and sustenance. We investigated oceanographic conditions at a deep-sea sponge ground located on an Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge seamount. Hydrodynamic measurements were performed along Conductivity-Temperature-Depth transects, and a lander was deployed within the sponge ground that recorded near-bottom physical properties as well as vertical fluxes of organic matter over an annual cycle. The data demonstrate that the sponge ground is found at water temperatures of −0.5°C to 1°C and is situated at the interface between two water masses at only 0.7° equatorward of the turning point latitude of semi-diurnal lunar internal tides. Internal waves supported by vertical density stratification interact with the seamount topography and produce turbulent mixing as well as resuspension of organic matter with temporarily very high current speeds up to 0.72 m s−1. The vertical movement of the water column delivers food and nutrients from water layers above and below toward the sponge ground. Highest organic carbon flux was observed during the summer phytoplankton bloom period, providing fresh organic matter from the surface. The flux of fresh organic matter is unlikely to sustain the carbon demand of this ecosystem. Therefore, the availability of bacteria, nutrients, and dissolved and particulate matter, delivered by tidally forced internal wave turbulence and transport by horizontal mean flows, likely plays an important role in meeting ecosystem-level food requirements.

Keywords

  • environmental conditions, food supply, internal waves, long&#8208, term monitoring, seamount, sponge ground
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2020JC016776
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research-Oceans
Volume126
Issue number3
Early online date22 Feb 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes
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