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Titel |
Deep-sea scavenging amphipod assemblages from the submarine canyons of the Western Iberian Peninsula |
VerfasserIn |
G. A. Duffy, T. Horton, D. S. M. Billett |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1726-4170
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Biogeosciences ; 9, no. 11 ; Nr. 9, no. 11 (2012-11-26), S.4861-4869 |
Datensatznummer |
250007417
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/bg-9-4861-2012.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
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. |
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