Abstract
Four oceanographic campaigns were done in the Perdido Fold Belt zone of the Gulf of Mexico during 2016 and 2017 to generate baseline data on several macrodescriptors to characterize the region and establish existing biological-ecological conditions before hydrocarbon exploitation begins in the area. General megafauna invertebrate data were collected by trawling with a sled net (2.4m2aperture). Seven Phyla were recorded in 66 trawls in a 274,593m2 area at depths ranging from 44 to 3609 m. Species richness was 299, abundance was 37,024org/hectare, and biomass was 305.5kg/hectare. Total ecological diversity for invertebrate megafauna in the study area as represented by the Shannon-Wiener index, was 5.35bits/ind.Megafauna in this area of the Gulf is very diverse, with the highest abundances of Phyla and species recorded nearest the coast.
Highlights
General invertebrate megafauna distribution extended from the intertidal zone to the hadal zone [1,2]
Four oceanographic campaigns were done in the Perdido Fold Belt zone of the Gulf of Mexico during 2016 and 2017 to generate baseline data on several macrodescriptors to characterize the region and establish existing biological-ecological conditions before hydrocarbon exploitation begins in the area
Total ecological diversity for invertebrate megafauna in the study area as represented by the Shannon-Wiener index, was 5.35bits/ind.Megafauna in this area of the Gulf is very diverse, with the highest abundances of Phyla and species recorded nearest the coast
Summary
General invertebrate megafauna distribution extended from the intertidal zone to the hadal zone [1,2]. Very little data is available on benthic invertebrate megafauna[3] This is mainly due to the methodological challenges of quantitative sampling [4,5], especially morphological differences in the different Phyla in the group, as well as their different life stages, which can occur in very different habitats [1,6]. Baseline data are essential to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic impacts.Knowledge on these communities in the Gulf of Mexico has largely come from assessments done in the northern Gulf under Unites States jurisdiction This area has seen intense industrial development since the 1930’s, when hydrocarbons were discovered in the coastal areas of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Florida [14]. Gathering quantitative data on biotic communities distributed in potentially affected zones is vital to developing the basic knowledge needed to create programs designed to protect the presently high biodiversity and prevent and mitigate any possible anthropogenic impacts[15]
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