Seamount studies reviewed
Seamounts, or mountains rising from the ocean floor that do not rise above sea level, are of great interest to science, industry and conservation. As they form obstacles in the path of moving waters, they can cause hydrodynamic disturbances and behave as giant 'stirring rods' of the sea. Furthermore, they have a high local biodiversity and enhanced productivity. Unfortunately, this is responsible for the growing exploitation of their natural ecosystems. Results of previous work have found that the ecology of a seamount is different to that of the neighbouring open ocean. They may exhibit a reduction in prey biomass that represents the feeding level on which predators depend. Furthermore, the primary production feeding level that forms the basis of the food chain can be reduced in relation to the surrounding waters. Another important feature is that they seem to exert an influence on their immediate environment and this is known as the 'seamount effect'. Although it has long been recognised that physical processes may be responsible, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood. The review into the research has focused on biogeochemical investigations although the closely related physical and biological aspects are also mentioned. In Europe, seamounts are scattered throughout the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. To comply with existing EU legislation and avoid over-exploitation of these resources, a better understanding of seamount systems is required. The knowledge accumulated will provide information necessary for sustainable management of seamount ecosytems and help to predict how the wider marine environment may change at seamount sites.
