Biological Communities at the Florida Escarpment Resemble Hydrothermal Vent Taxa

Dense biological communities of large epifaunal taxa similar to those found along ridge crest vents at the East Pacific Rise were discovered in the abyssal Gulf of Mexico. These assemblages occur on a passive continental margin at the base of the Florida Escarpment, the interface between the relativ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1984-11, Vol.226 (4677), p.965-967
Main Authors: Paull, C. K., Hecker, B., Commeau, R., Freeman-Lynde, R. P., Neumann, C., Corso, W. P., Golubic, S., Hook, J. E., Sikes, E., Curray, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Carbonates
Environmental aspects
Escarpments
Fauna
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrothermal deposits
Hydrothermal vents
Limestones
Marine
Ocean floor
Sea water
Sea water ecosystems
Sediments
Sulfides
Synecology
Taxa
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Summary:Dense biological communities of large epifaunal taxa similar to those found along ridge crest vents at the East Pacific Rise were discovered in the abyssal Gulf of Mexico. These assemblages occur on a passive continental margin at the base of the Florida Escarpment, the interface between the relatively impermeable hemipelagic clays of the distal Mississippi Fan and the jointed Cretaceous limestone of the Florida Platform. The fauna apparently is nourished by sulfide rich hypersaline waters seeping out at near ambient temperatures onto the sea floor.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.226.4677.965