1 The Deep Sea- Benthos Ocean Regions Major Benthic habitats • Epifauna • Infauna Community Structure • Few filter feeders (less than 7%) • Deposit feeders common (80%) • Often continuous breeding Lack of Hard Benthos Diversity in the deep • Most deep sea species are rare, so even with low numbers of total animals, relative diversity is high.
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The Deep Sea- BenthosOcean Regions
Major Benthic habitats
• Epifauna
• Infauna
Community Structure
• Few filter feeders (less than 7%)• Deposit feeders common (80%)• Often continuous breeding
Lack of Hard Benthos Diversity in the deep
• Most deep sea species are rare, so even with low numbers of total animals, relative diversity is high.
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Hydrothermal vent (Smoker)Very fast growth- Ephemeral
Hydrothermal Vents
• Discovered in 1976 with Alvin on Galapagos rift at 2700m
• Warm water (up to 400°C)• Chemosynthesis
– H2S Hydrogen sulfide energy sourcesulfate
Bacteria make the world go round…
• VestimentiferanWorms
Harbor symbiotic Bacteria in “gut”trophosome
Fast growthHigh mortality
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Lamellibrachia
• 250+ years
Vent food webs
Vent fields of the world Methane “Seeps”
Methane cold seep with clamsStable environments
Brine Lakes and Methane
methane hydrates
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Whale Falls
Chemolithoautotrophic Bacteria
• Food source for all vent and seep systems
Deep sea Nurseries
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