M3.7 Chemosynthetic-based-ecosystems (CBE)

Biome: M3. Deep sea floors biome

Contributors:
(texts)

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.

Profile versions

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

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

• 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.

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of M3.7 Chemosynthetic-based-ecosystems (CBE). See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

M3.7.IM.orig_v1.0

Datasets

• ESRI-plate-tectonics

Map references

M3.7.web.orig_v1.0

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. Open image full size.

Datasets

• ESRI-plate-tectonics

Map references

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