Control of deep-sea benthic community structure by oxygen and organic-matter gradients in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1991

Abstract

At boundaries of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), bathyal faunas experience steep gradients in oxygen and organic-matter availability. This study compares changes in microbial, meiofaunal, macrofaunal and megafaunal benthic assemblages along these gradients on Volcano 7, a 2.3-km high seamount in the E tropical Pacific. Faunal tolerance to dysaerobic (low oxygen) conditions varies with organism size; microbial and meiofaunal abundances are less affected than macro- and megafaunal abundances. At the exceedingly low concentrations (<0.1 ml/l) encountered on the upper summit of Volcano 7, oxygen appears to exert primary control over abundance, composition and diversity of macrofauna, overriding other factors such as food availability and sediment grain size. When oxygen concentration is sufficient, food availability in sediments is highly correlated with meiofaunal and macrofaunal abundance. -from Authors

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Marine Research

Volume

49

Issue

4

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