cold-water coral distributions in the drake passage area from towed camera observations – initial interpretations德雷克海峡地区的冷水珊瑚分布从拖相机观测,初步解释.pdfVIP

Cold-Water Coral Distributions in the Drake Passage Area from Towed Camera Observations – Initial Interpretations 1 ¤ 2 3 Rhian G. Waller * , Kathryn M. Scanlon , Laura F. Robinson 1 School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, 2 United States Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America, 3 Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America Abstract Seamounts are unique deep-sea features that create habitats thought to have high levels of endemic fauna, productive fisheries and benthic communities vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts. Many seamounts are isolated features, occurring in the high seas, where access is limited and thus biological data scarce. There are numerous seamounts within the Drake Passage (Southern Ocean), yet high winds, frequent storms and strong currents make seafloor sampling particularly difficult. As a result, few attempts to collect biological data have been made, leading to a paucity of information on benthic habitats or fauna in this area, particularly those on primarily hard-bottom seamounts and ridges. During a research cruise in 2008 six locations were examined (two on the Antarctic margin, one on the Shackleton Fracture Zone, and three on seamounts within the Drake Passage), using a towed camera with onboard instruments to measure conductivity, temperature, depth and turbidity. Dominant fauna and bottom type were categorized from 200 randomized photos from each location. Cold- water corals were present in high numbers in habitats both on the Antarctic margin and on the current swept seamounts of the Drake Passage, though the diversity of