Seamount egg-laying grounds of the deep-water skate Bathyraja richardsoni

Highly localized concentrations of elasmobranch egg capsules of the deep‐water skate Bathyraja richardsoni were discovered during the first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey of the Hebrides Terrace Seamount in the Rockall Trough, north‐east Atlantic Ocean. Conductivity–temperature–depth profili...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2016-08, Vol.89 (2), p.1473-1481
Main Authors: Henry, L.-A., Stehmann, M. F. W., De Clippele, L., Findlay, H. S., Golding, N., Roberts, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anthozoa
Atlantic Ocean
deep sea
Ecosystem
elasmobranch
Elasmobranchii
environment
Female
Fisheries
habitat
Male
Oviposition
Ovum
reproduction
Salinity
Skates (Fish)
Water
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Summary:Highly localized concentrations of elasmobranch egg capsules of the deep‐water skate Bathyraja richardsoni were discovered during the first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey of the Hebrides Terrace Seamount in the Rockall Trough, north‐east Atlantic Ocean. Conductivity–temperature–depth profiling indicated that the eggs were bathed in a specific environmental niche of well‐oxygenated waters between 4·20 and 4·55° C, and salinity 34·95–35·06, on a coarse to fine‐grained sandy seabed on the seamount's eastern flank, whereas a second type of egg capsule (possibly belonging to the skate Dipturus sp.) was recorded exclusively amongst the reef‐building stony coral Solenosmilia variabilis. The depths of both egg‐laying habitats (1489–1580 m) provide a de facto refuge from fisheries mortality for younger life stages of these skates.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.13041