Deep-water coral reefs from the Uruguayan outer shelf and slope

Carranza, Alvar, Munoz Recio, Araceli, Kitahara, Marcelo, Scarabino, Fabrizio, Ortega, Leonardo, Lopez, Guzman, Franco-Fraguas, Paula, De Mello, Camila, Acosta, Juan, and Fontan, Antia (2012) Deep-water coral reefs from the Uruguayan outer shelf and slope. Marine Biodiversity, 42 (3). pp. 411-414.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12526-012-011...
 
22
4


Abstract

We report the finding of monospecific scleractinian (i.e. Lophelia pertusa) reefs from the Uruguayan outer shelf and slope during an exploratory joint research cruise onboard the R/V 'Miguel Oliver' during January-February 2010. Acoustic mapping of the seafloor allowed the detailed analysis of 8,944 km(2), where some 17 structures identified as mounds were detected. Isolated cusps or groups of small mounds were the two main morphologies observed. Mound summit depths ranged from 167 to 326 m. The average height of the mounds was 35 m, reaching a maximum of 67 m. In all sampled mounds, the presence of live coral and/or coral rubble was detected, while absent from surrounding soft sediment bottoms. Some mounds were associated with fluid seepages. This is the first report of deep-sea coral reefs on the Uruguayan continental shelf and slope, and represents the southernmost Western Atlantic shelf and slope record of L. pertusa to date.

Item ID: 25492
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1867-1624
Keywords: deep sea coral reef, Lophelia, Southwestern Atlantic, Uruguay
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2013 05:29
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 50%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 4
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page