Drivers of epibenthic megafaunal composition in the sponge grounds of the Sackville Spur, northwest Atlantic

被引:52
作者
Beazley, Lindsay [1 ]
Kenchington, Ellen [1 ]
Yashayaev, Igor [1 ]
Murillo, Francisco Javier [1 ]
机构
[1] Bedford Inst Oceanog, Dept Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ocean & Ecosyst Sci Div, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
关键词
Deep-water sponge ground; Structure-forming sponge; Epibenthic megafauna; Vulnerable marine ecosystem; Gradient Forest; Sackville Spur; HEXACTINELLID SPONGE; PHERONEMA-CARPENTERI; COMMUNITY STRUCTURE; DEMERSAL FISH; LABRADOR SEA; FLEMISH PASS; GRAND-BANKS; WATER CORAL; DEEP; HABITAT;
D O I
10.1016/j.dsr.2014.11.016
中图分类号
P7 [海洋学];
学科分类号
0707 ;
摘要
Deep-water sponges are considered ecosystem engineers, and the presence of large aggregations of these organisms, commonly referred to as sponge grounds, is associated with enhanced biodiversity and abundance of epibenthic fauna compared to non-sponge habitat. However, the degree and magnitude to which the presence of these sponge grounds elicits large changes in composition of the associated megafaunal community remains unknown. Here we identify the external drivers of epibenthic megafaunal community composition and explore the patterns and magnitude of compositional change in the megafaunal community within the sponge grounds of the Sackville Spur, northwest Atlantic. Epibenthic megafauna were quantified from five image transects collected on the Sackville Spur in 2009 between 1080 and 1723 m depth. Using Gradient Forest Modelling we found that the abundance of structure-forming sponges was the most important variable for predicting compositional patterns in the Sackville Spur megafaunal community, followed by depth, range in bottom current speed, in situ salinity, and longitude. Along the gradient in structure-forming sponge abundance, the largest turnover in megafaunal community composition occurred when the sponges reached 15 individuals m(-2). Examination of the regional hydrographic conditions suggests that the dense sponge grounds of the Sackville Spur are associated with a warm, salty water mass that occurs between similar to 1300 and 1800 m. Crown Copyright (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:102 / 114
页数:13
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