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Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe–Shetland Channel

2006; Inter-Research; Volume: 319; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps319043

1616-1599

Daniel O. B. Jones, IR Hudson, BJ Bett,

Marine and fisheries research

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 319:43-54 (2006) - doi:10.3354/meps319043 Effects of physical disturbance on the cold-water megafaunal communities of the Faroe–Shetland Channel Daniel O. B. Jones*, Ian R. Hudson, Brian J. Bett DEEPSEAS Group, George Deacon Division, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK *Email: dj1@noc.soton.ac.uk ABSTRACT: The response of a deep, cold-water benthic community to physical disturbance from offshore drilling was investigated using Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) video in the Faroe–Shetland Channel. This study presents a novel method for characterising changes in the ecosystem function of deep-water benthic megafaunal communities in response to physical disturbance. Ecosystem function is investigated using a range of community parameters, particularly abundance and diversity. High levels of physical disturbance, characterised by smothering of the seabed within a radius of 50 to 120 m around the drilling site, resulted in significant but variable reductions in megafaunal abundance (up to 92.3%). Reductions in diversity, particularly in species richness, were apparent between disturbed (Mao Tao estimated species richness of ES(500) = 12.9) and undisturbed areas (ES(500) = 20.6). The implications of selective removal of taxa on ecosystem function and recovery are discussed. Low level disturbance had comparatively little effect on the megafaunal communities; the effects varied in nature depending on motility and functional group (e.g. motile scavenger abundances were maximal at intermediate distances from disturbance). We conclude by comparing the functioning of the ecosystem under different regimes of disturbance and discuss implications for recovery of disturbed deep-sea habitats. KEY WORDS: Benthos · Disturbance · Megafauna · ROV imaging · Abundance · Diversity · Ecosystem function · Faroe–Shetland Channel Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 319. Online publication date: August 18, 2006 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2006 Inter-Research.