Thesis
Preliminary exploration of long-term species abundance data at the Endeavor vent system
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102984
Abstract
Long-term studies of hydrothermal vent communities have historically not been possible due to the lack of high-resolution data. Now the Juan de Fuca Ridge contains a cabled observatory where Ocean Networks Canada has installed one of the first real-time camera systems transmitting from the deep sea. The camera provides pictures of an active tubeworm assemblage where a variety of species coexist. Images used in this study were taken every hour from May 2014 to September 2014 and every four hours from October 2014 to April 2015. We counted the presence of several species associated with the tubeworm assemblage (Branchinotogluma sp., Lepidonotopodium sp., Ridgeia Piscesae, Paralvinella palmiformis, and Sericosura spp.) to explore potential patterns of community structure compared with both local oceanic and surface conditions. We detected semidiunal, diurnal, atmospheric storm effects, and tidal cycles within species abundance. Community composition appears to be best explained by changes in temperature though one scale worm morphotype appears to be in its optimal niche.
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Details
- Title
- Preliminary exploration of long-term species abundance data at the Endeavor vent system
- Creators
- Stefanie Anne Watson
- Contributors
- Raymond W. Lee (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525144201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis