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Spatial structures of hydrothermal vents and vent-associated megafauna in the back-arc basin system of the Okinawa Trough, western Pacific

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Abstract

Spatial patterns and morphology of hydrothermal vents and the occurrence of vent-associated megafauna were investigated in the back-arc basin system of the Okinawa Trough, western Pacific. Amongst hydrothermal vent fields located on the rising slopes to the NE and S of the basin, the Iheya North area has been subjected to a series of intensive diving surveys. Hydrothermal vents demonstrated concentrated patterns of distribution on different spatial scales. In Iheya North, the majority of vents occurred in lines parallel to the NE to W/SW alignment of the spreading axis, within a radius of ca. 200 m around the most active sulphide structure with the highest recorded fluid temperature of over 300°C. The morphology of hydrothermal vents varied greatly from an incipient flat rock with crevices to a 20- to 30-m-tall, multi-flanged structure with concomitant variation in the distribution and abundance of vent-associated megafauna, particularly a galatheid Shinkaia crosnieri and Bathymodiolus mussels. Comparison of active and inactive vents revealed that the spatial extent of Shinkaia ‘aggregation’ (a group of individuals with short nearest-neighbour distances) effectively defined a habitat unit of this species, and active hydrothermal chimneys contained more of these units, leading to greater spatial occupancy by Shinkaia. Given the temporally unstable nature of vent structures as recognised by repeated surveys, vent assemblages are thought to be closely dictated by the spatio-temporal dynamics of vents in the Okinawa Trough back-arc system.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the Captain of the support vessel “Natsushima”, Mr. F. Saito, the Commander, Mr. Y. Yoda, and the piloting team of the “Shinkai 2000” submersible (in particular the Pilots, Messrs K. Matsumoto, H. Ueki and Y. Oono) and other crew members for unstinting logistical support during the research cruise in May 2002 during which a major portion of the data used in the present article was gathered. Thanks are also due to Dr K. Fujikura of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology for providing video records and related data of past diving surveys and all those involved in “Shinkai 2000” surveys until the submersible ceased its active operation in November 2002. I am also indebted to members of the Amakusa Marine Biological Laboratory for various forms of help with data processing and manuscript preparation. This work was supported in part by the P&P programs and the GCOE program of the Kyushu University and by “the Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research” (Nos. 14255013, 14340246) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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    M. Tokeshi

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Tokeshi, M. Spatial structures of hydrothermal vents and vent-associated megafauna in the back-arc basin system of the Okinawa Trough, western Pacific. J Oceanogr 67, 651–665 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-011-0065-9

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