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，重点是不同环境背景下4个地点的大西洋中脊动物群。这四个地点位于MAR的两侧，以及查理吉布斯断裂带（CGFZ）的北部和南部，与副极地锋重合。利用这些地方，我们将调查地形和电流对动物群分布的影响，以及在两个不同的地球化学环境中不同的有机输入的影响。这项工作的重点将是岩坡动物群和混合海底的沉积物袋，而不是相对知名的热液喷口。此外，还将把MAR动物群与欧洲和美洲大陆边类似的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群组成的影响的主要原则。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方面研究MAR的物理、化学和生物环境。MAR是一个地形上难以取样的地方，这无疑是目前对该地区缺乏了解的原因。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、仪表化系泊系统、自主着陆器、悬挂式摄像系统和新的6,500米级研究平台。拟议对该区域进行的三次考察中的第一次将绘制研究地点的详细测深图，以协助部署仪器系泊和取样设备。此外，还将采用密集的CTD采样来确定次极锋附近的环流，并为正在进行的遥感研究提供校准数据。随后的航行将继续利用现代声学技术和渔网进行远洋生物取样方案。此外，还将使用拖曳式照相机和着陆器进行有针对性的海底取样和实验。最后，除了采集精确样品进行地球化学分析外，海洋生物学调查将是记录和取样海洋生物区系的唯一手段。亚极地锋的存在和北大西洋洋流的影响，使生产制度与寒冷、新鲜和分层良好的沃茨形成鲜明对比，在CGFZ以北形成生物生产区。相反，南部的沃茨温暖，含盐量高，生产力低。在ECOMAR项目期间，将监测NAC的强度和位置，以便准确估计MAR底栖生物的出口产量。遥感技术的使用，加上船上的生物和物理测量，将使MAR的初级生产模式能够以更高的空间和时间分辨率进行研究。通过将卫星对初级生产的估计与船上的测量相结合，可以对输出通量进行估计，然后与一组四个沉积物捕集器系泊装置的数据进行比较。向深海底提供食物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方面发挥着重要作用。通过测量这种物质的组成和数量，包括浮游植物、浮游动物和沉积聚合物，ECOMAR项目将能够确定所观察到的MAR动物群丰度、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.