Mapping seamount macrofauna
The important role of seamounts in an ocean's life is multi-dimensional due to the enhanced productivity, the local biodiversity, and the growing exploitation of their natural resources. Macrofauna, organisms of more than one millimetre in length, that inhabit seamounts in deep water are unique in terms of diversity. The OASIS project focused on conducting an integrated study on oceanic seamounts. Part of this involved the development of a biodiversity inventory atlas of seamount macrofauna (BIAS). The atlas covers not only the OASIS study sites, the Seine and Sedlo Seamounts, but also Ampère and Gettysburg Seamounts. The BIAS project result offers a taxonomic assessment of the macrofauna accompanied by full-scale photographic documentation. This documentation includes additional information on ecology and biogeography. The BIAS tool can assist scientists to understand the complex processes that characterise the seamount ecosystems. In addition, it may contribute to well-established policy-making for conservation and sustainable development of the seamounts' natural wealth. For further information click at: http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/OASIS/(opens in new window)
