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significance of benthic organisms for the growth and movement of manganese nodules, Equatorial North Pacific

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Abstract

The search for shelter from predatory and grazing organisms leads to the settlement of sessile benthic deepsea organisms, especially in hollows of manganese nodules. These organisms, mostly foraminifers, grow mainly in narrow fractures, which prevents cracking of the nodule, or they attach their tests at the contact zone between two neighboring nodules, welding them together to form a polynodule. These processes operate very rapidly, probably within days or months. Benthic organisms searching for food are able to move nodules, and they may turn over even large nodules several times. It is assumed that benthic activity is responsible for the lifting of manganese nodules.

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  1. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natura Resources, P.O. Box 51 01 53, D-3000, Hanover, Germany

    U. von Stackelberg

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  1. U. von Stackelberg
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von Stackelberg, U. significance of benthic organisms for the growth and movement of manganese nodules, Equatorial North Pacific. Geo-Marine Letters 4, 37–42 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02237972

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02237972

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