Paper No. 23
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM

VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF LIVE(STAINED) BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA ASSOCIATED WITH METHANE SEEPS AND NON-SEEP HABITS AT HYDRATE RIDGE


HARDY, James D., Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, 200 N 7th st, Terre Haute, IN 47809, BURKETT, Ashley, Earth and Environmental Science, Indiana State University, Science Bldg 159, Terre Haute, IN 47809, RATHBURN, Anthony, Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, PEREZ, Elena M., Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, England, LEVIN, Lisa, Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gillman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, ORPHAN, Victoria J., Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, MC 100-2, Pasadena, 91125 and ROUSE, Greg, Marine Biology Research Division, University of California-San Diego, 602 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0210, jhardy3@sycamores.indstate.edu

Vertical distribution patterns of living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera (0-3cm) were compared in methane seep and non-seep habitats. Samples were collected using the ROV Jason2 at Hydrate Rigde north and south. Foraminiferal assemblages collected within bacterial mats from active methane seep environments at Hydrate Ridge north(600m water depth) had similar vertical distribution patterns to those outside the active seep areas. Similar taxa were present at seep and adjacent non-seep environments including: Uvigerina peregrina, Cassidulina spp., Bolivina spp., and Bulimina spp. Foraminifera in non-seep habitats on Hydrate Ridge south (813m water depth, with seafloor lithology that is less mature than that of the north ridge) were much less abundant than those at Hydrate Ridge north, and were dominated by agglutinated taxa. This suggests that appreciable variability exists in foraminiferal populations at Hydrate Ridge. These results are consistent with those of other continental margins where habitat heterogeneity strongly influences seafloor ecosystems.