Measurements of acoustic backscatter of the deep sea floor using a deeply‐towed vehicle. A technique to investigate the physical and geological properties of the deep sea floor and to assess manganese nodule resources

1986 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1186-1186
Author(s):  
Marco Weydert
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Manganese Nodule ◽  
Acoustic Backscatter ◽  
Sea Floor

Relationship Between Manganese Nodule Distribution and Deep-Sea Sediment Properties in the Northeastern Pacific

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Bum Chi ◽  
Wonnyon Kim ◽  
Cheong-Kee Park ◽  
Chanmin Yoo ◽  
Youngtak Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Manganese Nodule ◽  
Sediment Properties ◽  
Deep Sea Sediment ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Sediment Types ◽  
Northeastern Pacific

In order to identify a potential relationship between the spatial distribution of Mn-nodule and deep-sea sediment properties in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone of the northeastern Pacific, physico-chemical properties of deep-sea sediments and photos of sea-floor are analyzed. In general, sediment types in the area show dramatic changes with latitude. Compared to the middle sector (8–12°N) covered with biogenic siliceous sediments, the northern (16–17°N) and southern (5–6°N) areas are dominated by pelagic red clays and calcareous sediments, respectively. Such a difference in sediment types probably produces regional-scale variations in Mn-nodule occurrence with latitude (5–17°N) along longitude (131.5°W). According to the photographic examination, manganese nodules are well exposed on the sea floor in the latitude of >8°N. In connection with the dominant oceanic environment, such observation indicates that calcareous sediments cover the diagenic nodules due to higher primary productivity and sedimentation rate in the latitude of <8°N. In addition, sediments in the latitude of 8–12°N show relatively high shear strength. Considering the operation of miner and environmental effect, highly consolidated B2 and C1 areas (8–12°N), showing higher nodule contents and relatively lower primary productivity, are the most plausible site for commercial mining.

Large Plastic Debris Dumps: New Biodiversity Hot Spots Emerging on the Deep-Sea Floor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xikun Song ◽  
Mingxin Lyu ◽  
Xiaodi Zhang ◽  
Bernhard Ruthensteiner ◽  
In-Young Ahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Sea Floor

Gametogenesis and the reproductive cycle in the deep-sea anemone Paracalliactis stephensoni (Cnidaria: Actiniaria)

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Praet-Van
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Sea Anemone ◽  
Bay Of Biscay ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Spring Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Ultrastructural Investigation

This ultrastructural investigation of gametogenesis in a deep-sea anemone of the Bay of Biscay trawled around 2000 m depth, contributes to the knowledge of biology and strategy of reproduction of deep-sea benthos.This sea anemone is dioecious. The sperm appears very similar to those of shallow water sea anemones of the genus, Calliactis. The ultrastructural investigation of oogenesis allows the characteristics of the stages of previtellogenesis and vitellogenesis to be defined. The latter begins with a period of lipogenesis correlated with the formation of a trophonema. Mature oocytes measure up to 180 (im in diameter. Study of spermatogenesis and oogenesis reveals that spawning occurs in April/May. In males, the main area of testicular cysts, full of sperm, reaches maximal development from March to May and, in females, the percentage of mature oocytes decreases from 33% in April to 1% in May.Spawning may be induced by the advent in the deep-sea of the products of the spring phytoplankton bloom. This period of spawning, during the increased deposition of organic matter to the deep-sea floor, may be an advantageous strategy for early development of Paracalliactis.

Seasonal deposition of phytodetritus to the deep-sea floor

1986 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 265-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Rice ◽  
D. S. M. Billett ◽  
J. Fry ◽  
A. W. G. John ◽  
R. S. Lampitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Porcupine Seabight ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sea Bed ◽  
Seasonal Deposition

SynopsisEvidence has accumulated over the past twenty years to suggest that the deep-sea environment is not as constant as was at one time thought, but exhibits temporal variations related to the seasonally in the overlying surface waters. Recent results from deep-moored sediment traps suggest that this coupling is mediated through the sedimentation of organic material, while observations in the Porcupine Seabight indicate that in this region, at least, there is a major and rapid seasonal deposition of aggregated phytodetritus to the sea-floor at slope and abyssal depths.This paper summarises the results of the Porcupine Seabight studies over the past five years or so, using time-lapse sea-bed photography and microscopic, microbiological and chemical analyses of samples of phytodetritus and of the underlying sediment. The data are to some extent equivocal, but they suggest that the seasonal deposition is a regular and dramatic phenomenon and that the material undergoes relatively little degradation during its passage through the water column. The mechanisms leading to the aggregation of the phytodetritus have not been identified, and it is not yet known whether the phenomenon is geographically widespread nor whether it is of significance to the deep-living mid-water and benthic communities.

scholarly journals Interannual variation in the epibenthic megafauna at the shallowest station of the HAUSGARTEN observatory (79° N, 6° E)

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 18039-18081 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Meyer ◽  
M. Bergmann ◽  
T. Soltwedel
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Suspension Feeding ◽  
Fram Strait ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Food Input

Abstract. Epibenthic megafauna play an important role in the deep-sea environment and contribute significantly to benthic biomass, but their population dynamics are still understudied. We used a towed deep-sea camera system to assess the population densities of epibenthic megafauna in 2002, 2007 and 2012 at the shallowest station (HG I, ~ 1300 m) of the deep-sea observatory HAUSGARTEN, in the eastern Fram Strait. Our results indicate that the overall density of megafauna was significantly lower in 2007 than in 2002, but was significantly higher in 2012, resulting in overall greater megafaunal density in 2012. Different species showed different patterns in population density, but the relative proportions of predator/scavengers and suspension-feeding individuals were both higher in 2012. Variations in megafaunal densities and proportions are likely due to variation in food input to the sea floor, which decreased slightly in the years preceding 2007 and was greatly elevated in the years preceding 2012. Both average evenness and diversity increased over the time period studied, which indicates that HG I may be food-limited and subject to bottom-up control. The varying dynamics of different species may have been caused by differential capacities of populations to respond to increased food input through either recruitment or migration.

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