Multi-faceted examination of a deepwater seamount reveals ecological patterns among coral and sponge communities in the equatorial Pacific.

ABSTRACT: Spatial changes in benthic community structure have been observed across natural gradients in deep-sea ecosystems, but these patterns remain under-sampled on seamounts. Here, we identify the spatial composition and distribution of coral and sponge taxa on four sides of a single central Pacific equatorial "model" seamount within the US EEZ surrounding the Howland and Baker unit of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. This seamount rises from 5,000 + m to mesophotic depths of 196 m, and is influenced by the Equatorial Undercurrent. Four remotely operated vehicle (ROV) transects were completed, one on each flank of the seamount. Shallower than ~ 250 m, the mesophotic seafloor was composed of scoured carbonate pavement with sediment accumulation only found in rocky depression

SUBMITTER: Kennedy BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11742039 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature