Heterotrophy in marine animal forests in an era of climate change

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(3), P. 965 - 978

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Marine animal forests (MAFs) are benthic ecosystems characterised by biogenic three-dimensional structures formed suspension feeders such as corals, gorgonians, sponges and bivalves. They comprise highly diversified communities among the most productive in world's oceans. However, MAFs decline due to global local stressors that threaten survival growth of their foundational species associated biodiversity. Innovative scalable interventions needed address degradation increase resilience under change. Surprisingly, few studies have considered trophic interactions heterotrophic feeding MAF an integral component conservation. Yet, important for nutrient cycling, energy flow within food web, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, stability. This comprehensive review describes at all levels ecological organisation tropical, temperate, cold-water MAFs. It examines strengths weaknesses available tools estimating capacities then discusses threats climate change poses processes. Finally, it presents strategies improving heterotrophy, which can help maintain health

Language: Английский

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Dynamics of Near‐Bottom Currents in Cold‐Water Coral and Sponge Areas at Valdivia Bank and Ewing Seamount, Southeast Atlantic

Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 130(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract This study investigates near‐bottom currents and physical processes from simulations with the hydrodynamic model ROMS‐AGRIF at two seamounts of northeast Walvis Ridge to obtain valuable insights about drivers observed occurrences benthic suspension feeders (cnidarians sponges) in this data‐poor area. The spatial resolution each area was increased across levels nested grids 1,500 m 500 32 stretched terrain‐following (s‐) layers vertical high close bottom. parent receive initial boundary conditions basin‐scale INALT20 solutions OTIS inverse tidal model. topography is based on GEBCO data local refinements multi‐beam collected during different surveys 2008, 2009, 2010. Increasing an important advancement for precisely evaluating intrinsic dynamics within challenging rough terrain. We examined how vary over space time investigated potential links between Cnidarian Porifera ranges variables processes. identified a link species distributions suggested that such as kinetic energy dissipation internal wave may be considered future research proxies food supply feeders. Such mechanistic also used supplement more traditional descriptors water mass terrain properties distribution models, thus enhancing our ability predict occurrence communities characterized by cnidarians sponges.

Language: Английский

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Slow growth and high longevity characterize the common, large Arctic brittle star, Ophiopleura borealis

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 31, 2025

The longevity (lifespan) and growth rates of a given species provide the basis for estimating its contributions to secondary production energy flow in an ecosystem, guiding management decisions, determining recovery times after disturbances. For brittle stars, class echinoderms that dominate megabenthos various marine systems due their often large populations, including those on Arctic soft bottom shelves, information can be estimated through bands ossicles (arm bones). Here, we maximum life span, age distribution, rate common, endemic star, Ophiopleura borealis , from northern Barents Sea. We counted trawl-caught specimens using scanning electron microscope images innermost arm 80 spanning known size range. These counts were corrected overgrowth earliest bands, parameters common models. appeared as alternating layers dense less lines stereom ossicle fossae. band count was 39, which infer reflecting years. This estimate is higher than most other studied polar species. Most individuals sampled population spanned ages 25-32 constant k estimates 0.09 Single logistic model 0.01 specialized van Bertalanffy indicate slow growth. combined long lifespan stars suggest stocks found regions may take substantial time period establish recover potential

Language: Английский

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Do Chemosynthetic and Coral Communities Defy Deep‐Sea Ecological Paradigms?

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Broad biodiversity patterns (e.g., the latitudinal diversity gradient) are cornerstones of ecology that fundamental in understanding distribution life on planet. In deep sea, declining faunal abundance/biomass with depth and a mid‐continental slope maximum among most well‐defined patterns. However, they have largely been tested samples sediment communities. Here, we synthesise new biomass, density, data existing from chemosynthetic cold‐water coral (CWC) communities spanning > 3000 m to test validity these paradigmatic hypotheses deep‐sea associated hard substrata. Location Continental northern Gulf Mexico (~200–4000 depth). Time Period Present day. Major Taxa Studied Deep‐sea macrofaunal soft‐sediment hardgrounds CWCs cold seeps). Methods Relationships between abundance versus were Generalised Additive Models. Habitat suitability model outputs used assess changes CWC habitat over depth. Beta partitioning was quantify richness replacement components community turnover Results We did not find support for either or communities; instead, found idiosyncratic high maintained across depths. Main Conclusions Our results suggest seascape‐scale seafloor should be reappraised due consideration geological biogenic heterogeneity. discuss roles localised energy sources, nutrient recycling/retention, species adaptations as potential drivers steady increasing at depths relatively little sinking detrital carbon. major implications management regional global marine biodiversity, evidence chemosynthetic, coral, other hard‐substratum ecosystems widespread throughout ocean increasingly threatened by anthropogenic climate stressors.

Language: Английский

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A review of benthic cnidarians as underappreciated predators in the gelatinous ocean

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 172(5)

Published: April 16, 2025

Language: Английский

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Cold-water coral energy reserves and calcification in contrasting fjord environments

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 7, 2024

Abstract The relationship between energy reserves of cold-water corals (CWCs) and their physiological performance remains largely unknown. In addition, it is poorly understood how the allocation to different metabolic processes might change with projected decreasing food supply deep sea in future. This study explores temporal spatial variations total (proteins, carbohydrates lipids) CWC Desmophyllum dianthus correlation its calcification rate. We took advantage distinct horizontal vertical physico-chemical gradients Comau Fjord (Chile) examined changes over one year an situ reciprocal transplantation experiment (20 m vs. 300 fjord head mouth). Total correlated positively rates. fast-growing had higher less variable reserves, while slower-growing shallow showed pronounced seasonal reserves. Novel (transplanted from shallow) were able quickly increase both rates similar levels as native corals. Our shows importance sustaining growth spite aragonite undersaturated conditions (deep corals) present, potentially also future ocean.

Language: Английский

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Resemblance of the global depth distribution of internal-tide generation and cold-water coral occurrences

Ocean science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. 569 - 587

Published: April 15, 2024

Abstract. Internal tides are known to be an important source of mixing in the oceans, especially bottom boundary layer. The depth internal-tide generation therefore seems for benthic life and formation cold-water coral mounds, but conversion is generally investigated a depth-integrated sense. Using both idealized realistic simulations on continental slopes, we found that increases with increasing slope steepness decreases intensified shallow stratification. also shows typical latitudinal dependency related Coriolis effects. global database corals, that, Northern Hemisphere autumn winter, pattern correlates (rautumn = 0.70, rwinter 0.65, p < 0.01) corals: shallowest near poles deepest around Equator, decrease 25° S N, shallower north Equator than south. We further corals situated significantly more often topography steeper beam (i.e. where supercritical reflection internal occurs) would expected from random distribution: our study, 66.9 % all cases, occurred M2 tide whereas globally only 9.4 supercritical. Our findings underline occurrence as growth. energetic dynamics associated likely increase food supply towards reefs food-limited winter months. With climate change, stratification increase. Based results, this generation, possibly creating new suitable habitat slopes.

Language: Английский

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Arctic benthos in the Anthropocene: Distribution and drivers of epifauna in West Greenland

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175001 - 175001

Published: July 23, 2024

Albeit remote, Arctic benthic ecosystems are impacted by fisheries and climate change. Yet, anthropogenic impacts poorly understood, as their drivers have not been mapped over large areas. We disentangle spatial patterns of epifauna (animals living on the seabed surface) in West Greenland, integrating an extensive beam-trawl dataset (326 stations, 59-75°N, 30-1400 m water depth) with environmental data. find high variability at different scales: (1) Epifauna biomass decreases increasing latitude, sea-ice cover depth, related to food limitation. (2) In Labrador Sea south shows higher taxon richness compared Baffin Bay north. Τhe interjacent Davis Strait forms a permeable boundary for dispersal mixing zone Atlantic taxa, featuring regional biodiversity hotspots. (3) The provide suitable habitats filter-feeding communities e.g., sponges steep continental slope sea cucumbers shallow banks. Bay, deeper shelf, more gentle slope, lower current speed phytoplankton promote low-biomass communities, predominated stars, anemones, or shrimp. (4) Bottom trawling reduces throughout study area, where sessile filter feeders particularly vulnerable. Climate change diminished ice may amplify availability epifauna, thereby biomass. While species might expand northward due general permeability Strait, colonization high-biomass remains unlikely, given lack habitats. pronounced vulnerability diverse biomass-rich bottom emphasizes necessity informed sustainable ecosystem-based management face rapid

Language: Английский

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Tiger reefs: Self‐organized regular patterns in deep‐sea cold‐water coral reefs

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2023

Abstract Complexity theory predicts that self‐organized, regularly patterned ecosystems store more biomass and are resilient than spatially uniform systems. Self‐organized well‐known from the terrestrial realm, with “tiger bushes” being archetypical example mussel beds tropical coral reefs marine examples. We here identify regular spatial patterns in cold‐water (nicknamed reefs”) video transects argue these likely result of self‐organization. used variograms Lomb–Scargle analysis seven annotated to analyze live dead (i.e., skeletal remains) cover at Logachev mound province (NE Atlantic Ocean) found length scales between 62 523 m distribution along point self‐organization reefs. Self‐organization shows self‐organized can withstand large environmental changes by adjusting their configuration. indications corals similarly adjust configuration, possibly providing resilience face climate change. Dead framework remains environment for extended periods time, a template facilitates recovery. The notion is interesting restoration, as transplantation will be successful when it follows naturally present. This finding also underlines anthropogenic effects such ocean acidification bottom trawling destroy undermine resilience. Differences pattern periodicities further present an new angle investigate past conditions

Language: Английский

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Building your own mountain: the effects, limits, and drawbacks of cold-water coral ecosystem engineering

Biogeosciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(4), P. 973 - 992

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Abstract. Framework-forming cold-water corals (CWCs) are ecosystem engineers that build mounds in the deep sea can be up to several hundred metres high. The effect of presence coral on their surroundings is typically difficult separate from environmental factors not affected by mounds. We investigated control and importance engineering for reefs using annotated video transect data, spatial variables (MEMs), hydrodynamic model outputs a redundancy analysis with variance partitioning. Using available simulations where were artificially removed, we mound configuration reef habitat discriminated which find downward velocities winter, related non-engineered factors, e.g. winter mixing dense-water cascading, cause substantial differences cover at broadest scale (20–30 km). Such processes stimulate food supply towards seem more important than or similar summer. While ecosystem-engineering frequently discussed, our results also highlight processes. further that, due interaction between water flow, different zones found likely determine typical benthic zonations rubble foot, dead framework flanks, living near summit. Moreover, suggest so-called Massenerhebung (well known terrestrial mountains) exists, meaning zonation depends location rather height above seafloor depth. Our finding determines habitats implies cannot grow deeper depths avoid adverse effects climate change.

Language: Английский

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