Field sampling and analyses: Alvin and 2007 ROV cruise

Part 1: Overview(a look at the forest, before the trees)

Field Activities by Study Type

Descriptive studiesSpecies present (and biogeographic patterns)Community descriptionsVisitations by mobile fauna Chemistry surveysGeological characterizationsMicrobial community descriptions

Process oriented studiesTrophic interactions Growth rates and growth patternsMicrobial activitiesTemporal change

Result is a better understanding of the reasons for differences between sites and communities and why they change

Field activities by site type

Preliminary Survey SitesInventory of community typesInventory of species presentOverview of geologyOverview of geochemistryOverview of microbiologyLimited quantitative and targeted collections

Intensive Study SitesAll of the above, and…

Field activities by site typeIntensive Study Sites (All of the above, and…)

Chemical surveys nested within community mosaicsCommunity mosaics, pushcores, and collections nested within high resolution geological maps from AUV surveysTime Lapse Camera deployments

Visitation by mobile vagrants and colonistsImagery of study sites

Trapping of mobile faunaOn and off site

Trophic studiesWithin aggregations and links to “normal” fauna

Tubeworm (or coral) growth studiesChanges between years (mosaics and chemistry) Mussel symbiont studiesMore extensive targeted and quantitative collections

Field activities by year

First field seasonWork at 4 intensive and 3 preliminary study sitesCompose inventories (from collections)

Megafauna/MacrofaunaMeiofaunaMicrobiologyGeological

Construct Maps and MosaicsChemistry surveysStain TubewormsDeploy RTLC systems

Field activities by year

Second field seasonComplement and finish all necessary sampling at sites initiated in 2006Repeat mosaics Repeat Chemistry surveys as appropriateCollect stained tubewormsCollect all deploymentsCharacterize additional sites as time allows.

Field sampling and analyses: Alvin and 2007 ROV cruise

Part 1: Some Details(a quick look at the trees)

Collection and Census of faunaQuantitative collections whenever possible

Bushmaster (Tubeworms and corals)Mussel pots (Mussels, clams, and ?)

Targeted collections (manipulators, suction, nets)Attached faunaMobile fauna

Traps, trawlingImagery

MosaicsRTLCTargeted

Quantitative collections: BushmasterBushmaster Jr has been used by the JSL’s, Alvin, and Ropos Bushmaster Jr has been used for vent and seep tubeworms and coralsA single collection from the Juan de Fuca Ridge contained:

49 distinct taxaFrom 8 phyla4,329 tubeworms95,000 individuals of a snail (Depressigyra globulus)

Over 50,000 individuals of other species

Bushmaster Jr. in action

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Bushmaster(s) in Action

Quantitative collections: Mussel PotsThe mussel pots are new, but based on a design used extensively by Dr. Cindy Van DoverUsed by Jason II in the Lau Basin in June Up to six have been used in a singe diveThe new design is very robust and deploys a ring that allows quantification of “missed” faunaA single collection from Lau contained:

76 Ifremeria, 4 Alvinoconcha, and 2 Bathymodiolus (all foundation speciesAt least 9 other species of megafauna (5 gastropods, 2 crustaceans, and 2 polychaetes)A bunch more… (small stuff is not sorted yet)

A mussel pot in action

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Quantitative collections: Mussel Pots

Processing the quantitative collections

Identification, enumeration and biomass of all fauna (Wet weight and AFDW)

Additional measurements/analyses of foundation species

(Surface area, Size frequency)

Subsampling Taxonomy/systematics (molecular and classical)Phylogenetics/population geneticsTrophic studiesSymbiont studies (types, phylogenetics)

Processing the quantitative collections

Shipboard processingPreliminary identificationsSorting and enumeration as time allowsWet Weights (On MCSB as time allows)Subsampling

Laboratory processingFinal identificationsAdditional measurements of foundation species

(and processing of additional small attached species)AFDW of selected individuals for conversion factors

Taxonomy+ (phylogenetics/pop genetics)

Key Groups for Biogeography

Tubeworms (siboglinids) and symbionts (PSU)

Mussels (PSU)Mussel symbionts (Nicole Dublier)

Polynoid polychaetes (Stephane Hourdez)

Vesicomyid clams and limpets (Robert Vrijenhoek)Hard corals (Lophelia in particular; Cheryl Morrison)

Shrimp (Tim Shank)

Ophiuroids (Sabine Stohr)

Taxonomy+ (phylogenetics/pop gen)

Our general approachStart with standard genes that would identify new species (eg; mtCOI, mt16S for animals, 16S for symbionts).If new group, then additional (more conserved) genes to place it appropriately (rDNA 18S, 28S, EF1alpha)If known species with potential geographic isolation, then additional (more variable) genes to constrain degree of geographic isolation (mtND4, ITS2, microsatallites, introns)

Analyses of Communities

Community Trophic StructureTissue stable C, N and S contentKnowledge of feeding mode (when known)Interpreted in the context of quantitative data

Supplemented by analysis of interactions with more mobile background fauna

Result will be well constrained food webs

Analyses of Communities

Correlations between community typeand density to:

DepthGeographyGeophysicsGeochemistryMicrobiologyGas chemistry

Analyses of Communities

Comparisons between communities:

Site to siteUpper slope to lower slopeGoM to Atlantic (and the rest of the world)Tubeworms to mussels to corals etc.Young to old (successional changes?)

Temporal studies

Sclerochronology (Dr. R. E. Dodge)

Vestimentiferan growth rates and ages

Time Lapse Cameras

Establishment of long term monitoring

stations (mosaics and chemistry)

Lophelia pertusa Branch Collected in 1886 Aboard the Steamer

Albatross

Sclerochronology

Lophelia pertusa sectioned longitudinally (1 mm

thick)

REFLECTIVE TRANSMISSIVE X-RADIOGRAPHIC

Sclerochronology

Sclerochronology

Three controls on carbonate stable isotopes in Lophelia skeleton

Vestimentiferan Growth

The stainer in action

Growth data

ULS Tubeworm Growth Models

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L. luymesi S. jonesi

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Submergence asset Pros and ConsAlvin and Jason II were both designed and

used extensively for science, and have inherent advantages as a result:

Very high quality navigation (general and inertial)Very experienced pilots for delicate workOne “strong” and one force-feedback manipulatorSeveral excellent imaging systemsVery adaptable work platformsExtensive experience with user-supplied equipment

Submergence asset Pros and Cons

Alvin over Jason IIWe know how to use it (experience)PI spatial understanding of sites (two eyes and 3D vision)Heavy liftingMore work accomplished per unit bottom time

Jason II over AlvinSignificantly increased bottom time (24 hr operations)Closed loop navigational control for mosaics/surveysObservers can rotate during a diveNo HOV related safety concerns

(limitations on diving near a platform, working with implodable volumes, untested gear, etc.)