Abyssal Scavenging Communities attracted to Sargassum and fish in the Sargasso Sea

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• 作者：Aharon G. Fleury ^{afleury@hawaii.edu} ; Jeffrey C. Drazen ; ^{jdrazen@hawaii.edu}
• 关键词：Sargasso Sea ; Sargassum ; Baited camera ; Deep-sea ; Ophidiid ; Isopod
• 刊名：Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：February, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：72
• 期：Complete
• 页码：141-147
• 全文大小：1056 K

文摘

Deep-sea communities rely on epipelagic surface production as a primary source of energy and food. The flux of phytodetritus drives many abyssal ecological processes but the flux of large particles such as nekton carcasses, macroalgae, and wood may also be important. Recent baited camera experiments noted that some abyssal fish consumed spinach and phytoplankton placed on the seafloor. To evaluate if fish or other scavengers would consume natural plant or macroalgal material falling to the deep-sea floor we conducted camera experiments using Sargassum or mackerel bait in the Sargasso Sea. A benthic community of invertebrates was attracted to Sargassum, which naturally falls to the seafloor in this area. In five instances it was observed that an isopod Bathyopsurus sp. removed a piece of Sargassum from the main clump and left the field of view with it. An ophiuroid is also observed handling a piece of Sargassum. The group of scavengers attracted to mackerel bait was very different and was dominated by large ophidiid fish. In contrast to studies elsewhere in the abyssal North Atlantic, only a small number of rattails are observed, which could be related to water depth or an ichthyofaunal zonal change between oligotrophic and eutrophic regions.