scholarly journals Identifying Habitats of Conservation Priority in the São Vicente Submarine Canyon in Southwestern Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iga-Maria Nestorowicz ◽  
Frederico Oliveira ◽  
Pedro Monteiro ◽  
Luís Bentes ◽  
Nuno Sales Henriques ◽  
...  

Identifying vulnerable marine habitats is fundamental to promote evidence-based management and a sustainable use of our oceans. Although progress in the mapping of marine benthic habitats has been made, complex ecosystems such as submarine canyons remain largely unexplored, hampering evidence-based management from taking place in these ubiquitous features worldwide. Data from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey in the upper São Vicente Submarine Canyon in southwestern Portugal from 2011, was analysed to carry out a comprehensive assessment of megabenthic habitats, particularly those of conservation concern occuring between 90 and 560 m. Underwater videos from three exploratory dives, covering a total of 8.8 kilometers, were analyzed through multivariate and visual assessments, and the identified habitats were assessed against a set of criteria derived from current definitions of priority habitats. Thirteen potential priority habitats were characterized, out of which four distinct “coral gardens” and one “deep-sea sponge aggregation” are aligned with OSPAR definitions of priority habitats, and one corresponds to the habitat of a strictly protected sea urchin listed in the Habitats Directive. Three circalittoral sponge aggregations were also suggested based on the abundance of indicator species. The specific composition and diversity of priority habitats as described here, has not yet been described in any other canyon in the NE Atlantic region. Depth was revealed to be particularly important for the distribution of habitats, followed by relief and substratum. The approach presented in this study contributes to improve the understanding about submarine canyons, which is paramount to implement knowledge-based protection measures. Furthermore, it can be used to support future mapping efforts of deep-sea environments such as submarine canyons.

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2902 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
CHAD L. WIDMER

The hydroid and early medusa stages of the deep sea hydrozoan jellyfish Earleria purpurea (Hydrozoa: Mitrocomidae) are described. Mature medusae were collected from the Monterey Bay submarine canyon near Monterey, California, USA utilizing a remotely operated vehicle and returned to the laboratory for culturing. In vitro fertilized eggs developed into free-swimming planulae larvae that settled and metamorphosed into benthic hydroid colonies consisting of feeding hydranths and medusa producing gonangia. Newly released medusae were grown to maturity and placed on educational display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The hydranths and gonangia were compared and found to be distinct from those of E. corachloeae the only other member of the Genus Earleria with a described life cycle.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 7831-7851 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Duffy ◽  
T. Horton ◽  
D. S. M. Billett

Abstract. Submarine canyons have often been identified as hotspots of secondary production with the potential to house distinct faunal assemblages and idiosyncratic ecosystems. Within these deep-sea habitats, assemblages of scavenging fauna play a vital role in reintroducing organic matter from large food falls into the wider deep-sea food chain. Free-fall baited traps were set at different depths within three submarine canyons on the Iberian Margin. Amphipods from the traps were identified to species level and counted. Scavenging amphipod assemblages were compared at different depths within each canyon, between individual canyon systems, and between the abyssal plain and submarine canyon sites. Samples from canyons were found to contain common abyssal plain species but in greater than expected abundances. Community composition differed significantly between the submarine canyons and abyssal plains. It is proposed that this is a result of the high organic carbon input into canyon systems owing to their interception of sediment from the continental shelf and input from associated estuarine systems.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1646
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Angeletti ◽  
Gianfranco D’Onghia ◽  
Maria del Mar Otero ◽  
Antonio Settanni ◽  
Maria Teresa Spedicato ◽  
...  

There is growing awareness of the impact of fishery activities on fragile and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, stimulating actions devoted to their protection and best management by national and international organizations. The Bari Canyon in the Adriatic Sea represents a good case study of this, since it hosts vulnerable ecosystems, threatened species, as well as valuable commercial species, but virtually lacks substantial management plans for the sustainable use of resources. This study documents the high level of biodiversity of the Bari Canyon and the impact of human activities by analyzing remotely operated vehicle surveys and benthic lander deployments. An integrated socio-economic study provides information on fishing pressure in the Bari Canyon and in the surrounding areas. Finally, measures of conservation, protection, and management are discussed and suggested for this remarkable site in the context of the deep Mediterranean Sea.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 4861-4869 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Duffy ◽  
T. Horton ◽  
D. S. M. Billett

Abstract. Submarine canyons have often been identified as hotspots of secondary production with the potential to house distinct faunal assemblages and idiosyncratic ecosystems. Within these deep-sea habitats, assemblages of scavenging fauna play a vital role in reintroducing organic matter from large food falls into the wider deep-sea food chain. Free-fall baited traps were set at different depths within three submarine canyons on the Iberian Margin. Amphipods from the traps were identified to species level and counted. Scavenging amphipod assemblages were compared at different depths within each canyon and between individual canyon systems. Using data from literature, abyssal plain assemblages were compared to submarine canyon assemblages. Samples from canyons were found to contain common abyssal plain species but in greater than expected abundances. It is proposed that this is a result of the high organic carbon input into canyon systems owing to their interception of sediment from the continental shelf and input from associated estuarine systems. Community composition differed significantly between the submarine canyons and abyssal plains. The cause of this difference cannot be attributed to one environmental variable due to the numerous inherent differences between canyons and abyssal plains.


Author(s):  
Syed Fahad Javaid ◽  
Aishah Al-Zahmi ◽  
Munir Abbas

Dementia represents a significant problem in the Middle East. Sociocultural and political factors that shape conceptions of health and care tend to stifle research and the dissemination of knowledge throughout the Middle East. These socio-political challenges concerning engagement with individuals living with dementia and their carers include language barriers, stigmatization, logistical constraints, lack of informal support outside of hospitals, and over-dependence on clinicians for dementia information. There is an urgent need in the Middle East to increase care and support for adults with dementia and their carers, enhance research efforts and improve the dissemination of information related to dementia in the region. One possible way to do so is to begin to promote a knowledge-based culture throughout the Middle East. This can be achieved by aligning traditional deterministic and spiritual perspectives of mental health with more Western, scientific, and evidence-based models. We suggest employing practical, multidimensional approaches to deal with the stated challenges, both at individual and societal levels. Doing so will improve knowledge of dementia and allow health and social care systems in the Middle East to begin to address a growing problem.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5090
Author(s):  
Qingsheng Liu ◽  
Jinjia Guo ◽  
Wangquan Ye ◽  
Kai Cheng ◽  
Fujun Qi ◽  
...  

As a powerful in situ detection technique, Raman spectroscopy is becoming a popular underwater investigation method, especially in deep-sea research. In this paper, an easy-to-operate underwater Raman system with a compact design and competitive sensitivity is introduced. All the components, including the optical module and the electronic module, were packaged in an L362 × Φ172 mm titanium capsule with a weight of 20 kg in the air (about 12 kg in water). By optimising the laser coupling mode and focusing lens parameters, a competitive sensitivity was achieved with the detection limit of SO42− being 0.7 mmol/L. The first sea trial was carried out with the aid of a 3000 m grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) “FCV3000” in October 2018. Over 20,000 spectra were captured from the targets interested, including methane hydrate, clamshell in the area of cold seep, and bacterial mats around a hydrothermal vent, with a maximum depth of 1038 m. A Raman peak at 2592 cm−1 was found in the methane hydrate spectra, which revealed the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the seeping gas. In addition, we also found sulfur in the bacterial mats, confirming the involvement of micro-organisms in the sulfur cycle in the hydrothermal field. It is expected that the system can be developed as a universal deep-sea survey and detection equipment in the near future.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4688 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-263
Author(s):  
DANIEL LAURETTA ◽  
MARIANO I. MARTINEZ

Corallimorpharians are a relative small group of anthozoan cnidarians, also known as jewel sea anemones. They resemble actiniarian sea anemones in lacking a skeleton and being solitary, but resemble scleractinian corals in external and internal morphology, and they are considered to be the sister group of the stony corals. Corynactis carnea (=Sphincteractis sanmatiensis) is a small, common and eye catching species that inhabits the shallow water of northern Patagonia and the Argentinean shelf up to 200 m depth. Corallimorphus rigidus is registered for the first time from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. It is a rather big and rare species that inhabits only the deep sea. Only two specimens were found at 2934 m depth in Mar del Plata submarine canyon, in an area under the influence of the Malvinas current, which may explain its occurrence. These two species are the only two known jewel sea anemones in the Argentinean sea and are reported and described herein. 


Author(s):  
Fabio C. De Leo ◽  
Jeffrey C. Drazen ◽  
Eric W. Vetter ◽  
Ashley A. Rowden ◽  
Craig R. Smith

2018 ◽  
Vol 168 ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Barone ◽  
Eugenio Rastelli ◽  
Cinzia Corinaldesi ◽  
Michael Tangherlini ◽  
Roberto Danovaro ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Moses Thiong'o

The oceans make up about 70% of the earth’s surface and serve as habitats for many deep and shallow creatures. In depths of about 50 meters and more, deep-sea corals and sponges occur mostly along seamounts, continental margins, undersea canyons and ridges. They, deep-sea corals and sponges, play a key role in supporting the health of the ocean as they preserve the biodiversity and long-term sustainability of commercial and recreational fish species. With the many benefits that are attached to deep-sea corals and sponges, the Deep-Sea Corals and Research Technology Program (DSCRTP) has been collecting coral and sponge location data from hundreds of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys. However, DSCRTP does not have a spatial representation of the area covered by each ROV while searching for corals and sponges in the deep-sea. A spatial representation would provide critical information to researchers and managers to understand where a survey for corals and sponges has happened, and where a survey is yet to be done in the deep-sea. Therefore, the goal of this study is to create a spatial representation of the ROV surveys that have been collected in Monterey Bay and Hawaii sections of the deep-sea.


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