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Hydrothermal vent fields and chemosynthetic biota on the world's deepest seafloor spreading centre

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas P. Connelly

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Jonathan T. Copley

    (University of Southampton)

  • Bramley J. Murton

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Kate Stansfield

    (University of Southampton)

  • Paul A. Tyler

    (University of Southampton)

  • Christopher R. German

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.)

  • Cindy L. Van Dover

    (Duke University Marine Laboratory)

  • Diva Amon

    (University of Southampton)

  • Maaten Furlong

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Nancy Grindlay

    (Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina)

  • Nicholas Hayman

    (University of Texas, Institute for Geophysics)

  • Veit Hühnerbach

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Maria Judge

    (National University of Ireland)

  • Tim Le Bas

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Stephen McPhail

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Alexandra Meier

    (University of Southampton)

  • Ko-ichi Nakamura

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

  • Verity Nye

    (University of Southampton)

  • Miles Pebody

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Rolf B. Pedersen

    (Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen)

  • Sophie Plouviez

    (Duke University Marine Laboratory)

  • Carla Sands

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Roger C. Searle

    (Durham University)

  • Peter Stevenson

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Sarah Taws

    (University of Southampton)

  • Sally Wilcox

    (University of Exeter)

Abstract

The Mid-Cayman spreading centre is an ultraslow-spreading ridge in the Caribbean Sea. Its extreme depth and geographic isolation from other mid-ocean ridges offer insights into the effects of pressure on hydrothermal venting, and the biogeography of vent fauna. Here we report the discovery of two hydrothermal vent fields on the Mid-Cayman spreading centre. The Von Damm Vent Field is located on the upper slopes of an oceanic core complex at a depth of 2,300 m. High-temperature venting in this off-axis setting suggests that the global incidence of vent fields may be underestimated. At a depth of 4,960 m on the Mid-Cayman spreading centre axis, the Beebe Vent Field emits copper-enriched fluids and a buoyant plume that rises 1,100 m, consistent with >400 °C venting from the world's deepest known hydrothermal system. At both sites, a new morphospecies of alvinocaridid shrimp dominates faunal assemblages, which exhibit similarities to those of Mid-Atlantic vents.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas P. Connelly & Jonathan T. Copley & Bramley J. Murton & Kate Stansfield & Paul A. Tyler & Christopher R. German & Cindy L. Van Dover & Diva Amon & Maaten Furlong & Nancy Grindlay & Nicholas Hay, 2012. "Hydrothermal vent fields and chemosynthetic biota on the world's deepest seafloor spreading centre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1636
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1636
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