Climate influence on deep sea populations

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 3; no. 1; p. e1431
• Main Authors: Company, Joan B, Puig, Pere, Sardà, Francesc, Palanques, Albert, Latasa, Mikel, Scharek, Renate
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16.01.2008; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: 21st century; Animals; Aristeus antennatus; Biological activity; Climate; Climate change; Continental margins; Continental shelves; Deep sea; Deep sea environments; Ecology/Ecosystem Ecology; Ecology/Marine and Freshwater Ecology; Ecology/Population Ecology; Ecosystems; Euphotic zone; Fisheries; Fishing; Fishing zones; Hypotheses; Influence; Marine Biology; Marine ecosystems; Ocean bottom; Ocean circulation; Ocean floor; Organic matter; Overexploitation; Particle transport; Particulate organic matter; Recruitment; Sea currents; Sediment transport; Transport
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001431

Dynamics of biological processes on the deep-sea floor are traditionally thought to be controlled by vertical sinking of particles from the euphotic zone at a seasonal scale. However, little is known about the influence of lateral particle transport from continental margins to deep-sea ecosystems. To address this question, we report here how the formation of dense shelf waters and their subsequent downslope cascade, a climate induced phenomenon, affects the population of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus. We found evidence that strong currents associated with intense cascading events correlates with the disappearance of this species from its fishing grounds, producing a temporary fishery collapse. Despite this initial negative effect, landings increase between 3 and 5 years after these major events, preceded by an increase of juveniles. The transport of particulate organic matter associated with cascading appears to enhance the recruitment of this deep-sea living resource, apparently mitigating the general trend of overexploitation. Because cascade of dense water from continental shelves is a global phenomenon, we anticipate that its influence on deep-sea ecosystems and fisheries worldwide should be larger than previously thought.