ECOMAR; Ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the Sub-Polar Front and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone.

ECOMAR是一个200万GB的项目，旨在了解物理和生物地球化学因素如何影响深海群落的分布和结构，重点是在不同环境下的4个地点的中大西洋海脊的动物群。这四个地点位于3月的两边，查理·吉布斯断裂带(CGFZ)的北部和南部，这与亚极锋重合。利用这些地点，我们将调查地形和水流对动物分布的影响，以及在两种不同的生物地球化学环境中不同的有机输入的影响。这项工作将重点放在岩坡动物群和混合海底的沉积物口袋上，而不是相对众所周知的热液喷口。此外，还将MAR动物群与欧美大陆边缘的类似岩石斜坡动物群进行比较，以确定物理和生物地球化学因素对底栖动物组成影响的广泛原理。MAR是前沿领域，将带来许多令人兴奋的新发现。我们将从循环、生产、生物量和生物多样性等方面研究MAR的物理、化学和生物环境。3月是一个地形上很难取样的地方，这无疑是目前对该地区缺乏了解的原因之一。因此，ECOMAR将采用最新技术来克服这一问题，包括精密声学传感器、仪表式系泊设备、自动着陆器、悬挂摄像系统和新型6500米额定研究用ROV IIS。拟议的三次前往该区域的巡航中的第一次将制作研究地点的详细水深地图，以帮助部署仪器系泊和采样设备。此外，还将采用密集的CTD采样来描述亚极锋附近的环流，并为正在进行的遥感研究提供校准数据。随后的巡航将继续使用现代声学技术和渔网对远洋生物进行抽样方案。此外，还将使用拖曳相机和着陆器进行有针对性的海底采样和实验。最后，ROV ISIS将提供记录和采样MAR动物群的唯一手段，此外还将采集精确的样品进行地球化学分析。亚极锋的存在和北大西洋洋流(NAC)的影响使生产制度与寒冷、淡水和分层良好的水域形成对比，在CGFZ以北形成了一个生物生产区。相比之下，南方的水域温暖、盐碱化，生产力较低。在ECOMAR项目期间，将监测新能源中心的力量和地位，以便准确估计对3月底栖动物的出口产量。遥感技术的使用，加上船上的生物和物理测量，将使人们能够以更高的空间和时间分辨率研究MAR的初级生产模式。通过将卫星对初级生产量的估计与船上的测量结合起来，可以估计出口流量，然后与四个沉积物捕集器系泊设备阵列的数据进行比较。向深海海底供应食物在构建底栖动物群落和推动繁殖、新陈代谢和活动等速率过程中发挥着重要作用。通过测量这种物质作为浮游植物、浮游动物和沉积集合体的组成和数量，ECOMAR项目将能够确定MAR动物群丰度、生物量和多样性观测模式背后的驱动力。

ECOMAR is a £2 million project aimed at understanding how physical and biogeochemical factors influence the distributions and structure of deep-sea communities, focusing on the fauna of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 4 sites in different environmental settings. The four sites are located on either side of the MAR and to the north and south of the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ), which coincides with the Sub-Polar Front. Using these localities we will investigate the effects of topography and currents on the distribution of the fauna, and the effects of varying organic input in two different biogeochemical settings. The work will focus on rocky slope fauna and sediment pockets in mixed bottoms rather than hydrothermal vents, which are relatively well known. In addition the MAR fauna will be compared with similar rocky slope fauna on the European and American continental margins to determine broad principals on the influence of physical and biogeochemical factors on the composition of the benthic fauna. The MAR is frontier territory and will lead to many new exciting discoveries. We will study the physical, chemical and biological environment of the MAR in terms of circulation, production, biomass and biodiversity. The MAR is a topographically difficult place to sample, which has no doubt contributed to the current lack of knowledge of this region. Therefore ECOMAR will employ the latest technologies to overcome this problem including precision acoustic sensors, instrumented moorings, autonomous lander vehicles, suspended camera systems and the new 6,500m rated research ROV Isis. The first of three proposed cruises to the region will produce detailed bathymetric maps of the study sites to aid deployment of instrument moorings and sampling equipment. In addition intensive CTD sampling will be employed to characterise the circulation in the vicinity of the Sub-Polar Front and provide calibration data for ongoing remote sensing research. The subsequent cruises will continue sampling programmes for pelagic biology using modern acoustic techniques as well as nets. In addition targeted benthic sampling and experimentation will take place using towed cameras and lander vehicles. Finally the ROV Isis will provide the only means of documenting and sampling the fauna of the MAR in addition to taking precision samples for geochemical analysis. The presence of the Sub-Polar Front and influence of the North Atlantic Current (NAC) provide for contrasting production regimes with cold, fresh and well stratified waters creating a biologically productive region to the north of the CGFZ. In contrast the waters to the south are warm, saline and less productive. The strength and position of the NAC will be monitored during the ECOMAR project to allow accurate estimates of export production to the benthos of the MAR. The use of remote sensing technologies, coupled with shipboard biological and physical measurements, will allow patterns of primary production over the MAR to be studied at higher spatial and temporal resolutions. By integrating satellite estimations of primary production with shipboard measurements estimates of export flux can be made and then compared with data from an array of four sediment trap moorings. The supply of food to the deep-sea floor plays a major role in structuring benthic communities and driving rate processes such as reproduction, metabolism and activity. By measuring the composition and quantity of this material both as phytoplankton, zooplankton and sedimenting aggregates the ECOMAR project will be able to identify the driving forces behind observed patterns of abundance, biomass and diversity in the fauna of the MAR.