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Spatial heterogeneity of macrofauna at northern California methane seeps: influence of sulfide concentration and fluid flow

Relationships among fluid flow, sulfide concentration, sulfur bacteria and macrofaunal assemblages were examined at methane seeps on the northern California margin, near the mouth of the Eel River (512 to 525 m). Over a 6 mo period, sediments covered with microbial mats exhibited significant but var...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2003-12, Vol.265, p.123-139
Main Authors: Levin, Lisa A., Ziebis, Wiebke, Mendoza, Guillermo F., Growney, Valerie A., Tryon, Michael D., Brown, Kevin M., Mahn, Chris, Gieskes, Joris M., Rathburn, Anthony E.
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Language:English
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Summary:Relationships among fluid flow, sulfide concentration, sulfur bacteria and macrofaunal assemblages were examined at methane seeps on the northern California margin, near the mouth of the Eel River (512 to 525 m). Over a 6 mo period, sediments covered with microbial mats exhibited significant but variable outflow of altered fluids, with no flow reversals. This fluid flow was associated with high porewater sulfide concentrations (up to 20 mM) and almost no oxygen penetration of sediments (1 mM. However, sulfide-oxidizing filamentous bacteria, dorvilleid polychaetes and bivalves (mainlyV. pacifica) exhibited highest densities at sulfide concentrations of 1 to 5 mM sulfide. Horizontal and vertical patterns of sulfide availability have a strong influence on the fine-scale distribution, structure and composition of macrofaunal assemblages inhabiting methane seeps and must be accounted for when characterizing the microbiology and ecology of seep habitats.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps265123