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

ECOMAR是一个耗资200万英镑的项目，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，重点关注大西洋中脊在不同环境条件下的4个地点的动物群。这四个地点分别位于MAR的两侧和Charlie Gibbs断裂带（CGFZ）的南北，该断裂带与亚极锋重合。利用这些地点，我们将研究地形和洋流对动物群分布的影响，以及在两种不同的生物地球化学环境下不同有机输入的影响。这项工作将侧重于岩石斜坡动物和混合底部的沉积物袋，而不是相对知名的热液喷口。此外，将MAR动物群与欧洲和美洲大陆边缘的类似岩质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大致原理。MAR是一个前沿领域，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海洋的物理、化学和生物环境。MAR是一个地形上难以采样的地方，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、仪表系泊、自主着陆器、悬挂摄像系统和新的6500米额定研究ROV Isis。拟议的三次前往该地区的巡航中的第一次将绘制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，将采用密集的CTD采样来描述次极锋附近的环流特征，并为正在进行的遥感研究提供校准数据。其后的巡洋舰将继续使用现代声学技术和渔网对远洋生物进行取样。此外，还将利用牵引摄像机和着陆器进行有针对性的底栖生物取样和实验。最后，除了为地球化学分析提供精确样本外，ROV Isis还将提供记录和采样MAR动物群的唯一手段。亚极锋的存在和北大西洋洋流（NAC）的影响提供了与寒冷、新鲜和分层良好的水域形成鲜明对比的生产制度，在CGFZ北部创造了一个生物生产区。相比之下，南方的海水温暖、含盐且产量较低。在ECOMAR项目期间，将监测NAC的强度和位置，以便对MAR底栖生物的出口产量进行准确估计。遥感技术的使用，加上船上的生物和物理测量，将允许以更高的空间和时间分辨率研究MAR上的初级生产模式。通过将初级产量的卫星估计与船上测量相结合，可以对出口通量进行估计，然后与一系列四个沉积物捕集器系泊的数据进行比较。深海海底的食物供应在构建底栖生物群落和推动繁殖、新陈代谢和活动等速率过程中起着重要作用。通过测量作为浮游植物、浮游动物和沉积聚集体的这种物质的组成和数量，西非监测项目将能够确定在海洋生物群中观察到的丰度、生物量和多样性模式背后的驱动力。

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.