| > Oceanography > Issues > Archive > Volume 22, Number 1 |
2009, Oceanography 22(1):110–127, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.12
Biodiversity of Cold Seep Ecosystems Along
the European Margins
Authors | Abstract | Full Article | Citation
Authors
Ann Vanreusel | Marine Biology Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
Ann C. Andersen | Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), and Equipe Ecophysiologie: Adaptation et Evolution Moléculaires, UMR 7144 - Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) - UPMC, Station Biologique, Roscoff, France
Antje Boetius | Microbial Habitat Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, and Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany
Douglas Connelly | Geology and Geophysics Group, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Marina R. Cunha | Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Departemento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
Carole Decker | Deep-Sea Ecosystem Department, Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer), Centre de Brest, Plouzané, France
Ana Hilario | CESAM, Departemento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
Konstantinos A. Kormas | Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Nea Ionia, Greece
Loïs Maignien | Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET) and Renard Center for Marine Geology (RCMG), Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
Karine Olu | Deep-Sea Ecosystem Department, Ifremer, Centre de Brest, Plouzané, France
Maria Pachiadaki | Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Benedicte Ritt | Deep-Sea Ecosystem Department, Ifremer, Centre de Brest, Plouzané, France
Clara Rodrigues | CESAM, Departemento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
Jozée Sarrazin | Deep-Sea Ecosystem Department, Ifremer, Centre de Brest, Plouzané, France
Paul Tyler | National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Saskia Van Gaever | Marine Biology Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
Heleen Vanneste | School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, UK
Abstract
During the European Commission's Framework Six Programme, HERMES, we investigated three main areas along the European margin, each characterized by the presence of seep-related structures exhibiting different intensity of activity and biological diversity. These areas are: (1) the Nordic margin with the Håkon Mosby mud volcano and many pockmarks, (2) the Gulf of Cádiz, and (3) the eastern Mediterranean with its hundreds of mud volcanoes and brine pool structures. One of the main goals of the HERMES project was to unravel the biodiversity associated with these seep-associated ecosystems, and to understand their driving forces and functions, using an integrated approach. Several multidisciplinary research cruises to these three areas provided evidence of high variability in ecosystem processes and associated biodiversity at different spatial scales, illustrating the "hotspot" nature of these deep water systems.
Full Article
Citation
Vanreusel, A., A.C. Andersen, A. Boetius, D. Connelly, M.R. Cunha, C. Decker, A. Hilario, K.A. Kormas, L. Maignien, K. Olu, M. Pachiadaki, B. Ritt, C. Rodrigues, J. Sarrazin, P. Tyler, S. Van Gaever, and H. Vanneste. 2009. Biodiversity of cold seep ecosystems along the European margins. Oceanography 22(1):110–127, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.12.