M3.7 Chemosynthetic-based-ecosystems (CBE)

M3. Deep sea floors biome

M3
Modified

July 5, 2024

Profile summary

Full profile at https://global-ecosystems.org/explore/groups/M3.7

Brief description

In these very deep, high pressure ecosystems, primary productivity is fuelled by chemical compounds as energy sources instead of light (chemoautotrophy). This group of productive deep sea ecosystems include: 1) hydrothermal vents on mid-ocean ridges and volcanically active seamounts, where temperatures may reach 400°C; 2) cold seeps typically on continental slopes; and 3) large organic falls of whales or wood. These specialised environments have high biomass but low diversity of organisms including microbes, tubeworms and shrimps, many of which are locally unique.

Key features

Systems supported by microbial chemoautotrophy with high biomass of relatively low diversity, highly speciliased, fauna.

Overview of distribution

Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, large organic falls on the deep seafloor.

Map description

Major occurrences of Chemosynthetic-based ecosystems was based on the distribution of hydrothermal vents on spreading plate boundaries mapped in ‘Plate lines and polygons’ data by USGS/ESRI. Occurrences were converted to 30 arc second spatial resolution. The distribution of cold seeps is poorly known and was not mapped..

Map code and version: M3.7.web.orig v1.0, available at DOI

Version history

Profile versions

  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): E Ramirez-Llodra; UC Fernandez-Arcaya; S Rossi; DA Keith.1
  • v2.01 (NA): NA.
  • v2.0 (2020-05-31): E Ramirez-Llodra; DA Keith.
  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): E Ramirez-Llodra; DA Keith.

Available maps

Read more details about the current map versions here.

  • Web navigation (code: M3.7.web.orig, version v1.0)
  • Indicative Map (code: M3.7.IM.orig, version v1.0)

Read more details about older or alternative versions of maps for this functional group.

References

Main references

References used in the different versions of the profiles.

  • Tunnicliffe V, Juniper KS, Sibuet M (2003) Reducing environments of the deep-sea floor Ecosystems of the World Vol 28 Ecosystems of the deep oceans, pp 81-110. Elsevier, London.

Map references

References used in the different versions of the maps (current and discarded).

  • NA

Footnotes

  1. This is the current version available at official site.↩︎