Vertical distributions of megafauna on inactive vent sulfide features correspond to their feeding modes

Abstract

The discovery of inactive hydrothermal vent sulfide features near 9°50′N on the East Pacific Rise provides an opportunity to investigate the distribution and feeding ecology of communities inhabiting this type of habitat. We quantify megafaunal distributions on two features, Lucky's Mound and Sentry Spire, to determine how taxonomic composition and feeding traits vary with vertical elevation. Fifty-one morphotypes, categorized by feeding mode, were identified from three levels of the features (spire, apron, and base) and the surrounding flat oceanic rise. About half of the morphotypes (26 of 51) were only observed at the sulfide features. Passive suspension feeders were more abundant on the spires, where horizontal particulate flux is expected to be elevated, than the base or rise. Deposit feeders tended to be more abundant on the base and rise, where deposition is expected to be enhanced, but were unexpectedly abundant higher up on Sentry Spire. Community differences between the two sulfide features suggest that other processes, such as feature-specific chemoautotrophic production, may also influence distributions.