Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2018-319
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2018-319
02 Aug 2018
 | 02 Aug 2018
Status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal Biogeosciences (BG). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.

Unveiling the Perth Canyon and its deep-water faunas

Julie A. Trotter, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Paolo Montagna, Marco Taviani, James Falter, Ron Thresher, Andrew Hosie, David Haig, Federica Foglini, Quan Hua, and Malcolm T. McCulloch

Abstract. The Perth Canyon is a prominent submarine valley system in the southeast Indian Ocean that incises the southwest Australian continental shelf. It is characterised by two main steep-sided valleys forming a V-shaped configuration that extend from a depth of ~ 600 m to the abyssal plain at ~ 4000 m. Despite its prominence and location of only ~ 27 nautical miles (50 km) offshore, this study represents the first ROV-based exploration of the canyon and its inhabitants. ROV surveys revealed quiescent environments, the structure essentially representing a fossil canyon system with localised occurrences of significant mega- and macrobenthos in the depth range of ~ 680 to ~ 1800 m. The patchy distribution of canyon life comprised corals, sponges, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans, brachiopods, and worms, as well as plankton and nekton (various fish species) especially near benthic communities. High definition video surveys and biomass sampling were complemented by ship-based multi-beam bathymetry, and seawater CTD profiling and chemical analyses.

ROV transects were conducted at six geomorphologically distinct locations, from the head to the mouth of the canyon and on the northern shelf plateau. The dives traversed the generally featureless muddy canyon floor, along near vertical walls, and onto the canyon rim. ROV imaging revealed typically massive and well-bedded sedimentary units that are variably lithified and mostly friable. Biostratigraphic and palaeoecological analysis of foraminifers from rock and sediment samples (~ 700 to 1600 m) indicate that they were deposited from the Late Paleocene to Early Oligocene within upper-middle bathyal (~ 200 to ~ 700 m) water depths, thus implying that significant subsidence has occurred. Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) dating also suggests the presence of Early Miocene sediments at the shallower sites.

Settlement of large benthic sessile organisms is largely limited to indurated substrates mostly along the canyon walls. Corals were specifically targeted, with solitary (Desmophyllum dianthus, Caryophyllia sp., Vaughanella sp., and Polymyces sp.) and colonial (Solenosmilia variabilis) scleractinians found sporadically distributed along the walls and beneath overhangs in the deeper canyon valleys as well as along the canyon rims. Gorgonian, bamboo, and proteinaceous corals were also present with noticeable patches of live Corallium hosting a diverse community of organisms. Extensive coral graveyards were discovered between ~ 690–720 m and 1560–1790 m comprising colonial (S. variabilis) and solitary (D. dianthus) scleractinians, which had flourished during the last ice age between ~ 18 ka to 33 ka (BP).

Faunal sampling (674 m to 1815 m) spans the intermediate and deep waters, which were identified as Antarctic Intermediate Water and Upper Circumpolar Deep Water, with temperatures of ~ 2.5 to ~ 6 °C. The carbonate chemistry of those water depths show supersaturation (Ωcalc ~ 1.3 to 2.2) with respect to calcite, but mild saturation to undersaturation (Ωarag ~ 0.8 to 1.4) with respect to aragonite. Notably, some scleractinians inhabit depths below the aragonite saturation horizon (~ 1000 m). Depth profile measurements of δ13C and nuclear bomb produced Δ14C show decreases within the upper canyon waters of up to ~ 0.8 ‰ (< 800 m) and 95 ‰ (< 500 m) respectively, relative to measurements taken nearby in 1978, thereby reflecting the ingress of anthropogenic carbon into upper intermediate waters. Thus, the canyon waters and its inhabitants are already being subject to the influences of CO2 induced climate change and ocean acidification.

Julie A. Trotter, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Paolo Montagna, Marco Taviani, James Falter, Ron Thresher, Andrew Hosie, David Haig, Federica Foglini, Quan Hua, and Malcolm T. McCulloch
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Julie A. Trotter, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Paolo Montagna, Marco Taviani, James Falter, Ron Thresher, Andrew Hosie, David Haig, Federica Foglini, Quan Hua, and Malcolm T. McCulloch
Julie A. Trotter, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Paolo Montagna, Marco Taviani, James Falter, Ron Thresher, Andrew Hosie, David Haig, Federica Foglini, Quan Hua, and Malcolm T. McCulloch

Viewed

Total article views: 1,537 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
1,033 455 49 1,537 216 44 43
  • HTML: 1,033
  • PDF: 455
  • XML: 49
  • Total: 1,537
  • Supplement: 216
  • BibTeX: 44
  • EndNote: 43
Views and downloads (calculated since 02 Aug 2018)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 02 Aug 2018)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,465 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,459 with geography defined and 6 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 27 Mar 2024
Download
Short summary
The first ROV exploration of the Perth Canyon offshore southwest Australia discovered diverse hot spots of deep-sea biota to depths of ~ 2000 m. Some corals were living below the carbonate saturation horizon. Extensive coral graveyards found at ~ 700 and ~ 1700 m are between ~ 18 000 and ~ 30 000 years old, indicating these corals flourished during the last ice age. Anthropogenic carbon detected within the upper ~ 800 m highlights the increasing threat of climate change to deep-sea ecosystems.
Altmetrics