Davidson Seamount: The Biology of an Underwater Mountain

Tags: Davidson Seamount seamounts deep-sea corals MBARI Lonny Lundsten Craig McClain

Over the last two decades, marine biologists have discovered lush forests of deep-sea corals and sponges growing on seamounts (underwater mountains) offshore of the California coast. It has generally been assumed that many of these animals live only on seamounts, and are found nowhere else. However, new research from MBARI shows that most seamount animals can also be found in other deep-sea areas. Seamounts, however, do support particularly large, dense clusters of these animals. These findings may help coastal managers protect seamounts from damage by human activities. For more information, see: MBARI news release: http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2009/seamounts/seamounts.html C. R. McClain, L. Lundsten, M. Ream, J. P. Barry, A. DeVogelaere. Endemicity, biogeography, composition, and community structure on a Northeast Pacific Seamount. PLOS ONE. Vol 4, Issue 1. January 2009 L. Lundsten, J. P. Barry, G. M. Cailliet, D. A. Clague, A. DeVogelaere, J. B. Geller. Benthic invertebrate communities on three seamounts off southern and central California. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol 374. pp 23-32. January 13, 2009

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