Abstract
A newly discovered cold seep from the Lofoten-Vesterålen margin (Norwegian Sea) is dominated by the chemosymbiotrophic siboglinid Oligobrachia haakonmosbiensis like other high latitude seeps, but additionally displays uncharacteristic features. Sulphidic bottom water likely prevents colonization by cnidarians and sponges, resulting in fewer taxa than deeper seeps in the region, representing a deviation from depth-related trends seen among seeps elsewhere. O. haakonmosbiensis was present among carbonate and barite crusts, constituting the first record of frenulates among hard substrates. The presence of both adults and egg cases indicate that Ambylraja hyperborea skates use the site as an egg case nursery ground. Due to sub-zero ambient temperatures (−0.7 °C), we hypothesize that small, seepage related heat anomalies aid egg incubation and prevent embryo mortality. We place our results within the context of high–latitude seeps and suggest they exert evolutionary pressure on benthic species, thereby selecting for elevated exploitation and occupancy of high-productivity habitats.
Highlights
In the Lofoten–Vesterålen region off northern Norway (Fig. 1), effective management policy is crucial because of the area’s ecological and economic importance[16]
Most of the work conducted for the purpose of this study was conducted in 2017, with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Ægir 6000
The faunal communities at active areas of the study site are dominated by frenulate siboglinid worms and a number of heterotrophic species, but lack the large, chemosymbiotrophic animals often considered trademarks of seeps such as vestimentiferan worms, bathymodioline mussels and vesicomyid clams
Summary
In the Lofoten–Vesterålen region off northern Norway (Fig. 1), effective management policy is crucial because of the area’s ecological and economic importance[16] It is a focal point for the interaction of warm Atlantic water with cold Arctic water, resulting in high biological productivity, including some of the largest commercial fish spawning stocks in the world[17,18]. Monitoring and survey programmes have been launched to increase knowledge and even identify key gaps in the understanding of the Lofoten–Vesterålen ecosystem, in order to update management policies and guidelines[22,23] During this process, a previously unknown cold seep site was discovered on the lower continental slope off Lofoten–Vesterålen (68°9′ N, 10°28′ E, ~750 m water depth, Fig. 1)[24]. The site displays certain deviations from known characteristics of cold seeps, which has implications for cold seep biology, within the context of high latitude or polar regions of the world
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