Seamount effects on the diel vertical migration and spatial structure of micronekton

Abstract

Abstract We examined the diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior and vertical spatial structure of sound-scattering layers (SLs) at two seamounts (Condor and Gigante) in the Azores and in surrounding open-waters. Active acoustic data were recorded day and night during nine cruises conducted in spring, summer and autumn between 2009 and 2011. SLs were permanent features with two main layers, shallow scattering layers (SSLs) and deep scattering layers (DSLs). Over seamount plateaus, SSLs aggregated close to the seafloor during the day and in slightly shallower waters at night. Backscatter intensity on plateaus varied little between day and night and was consistently higher than in SSLs above slopes or in open-waters. DSLs found over slopes and open-waters migrated towards the surface at dusk and returned to their daylight depths at dawn but an intense DSL persisted overnight in deep open-waters. Variograms showed that SSLs and DSLs were not uniformly distributed but amount of spatial heterogeneity varied between seamount plateaus, slopes and open-waters, and day-night periods. Taken together, these findings suggest that (1) Condor and Gigante Seamounts host a resident micronekton community, (2) there is an influx of vertically migrating organisms over the plateaus at night, and (3) seamount topography affects the DVM behavior of the DSL. Physical processes, such as Taylor cap effect, along with topographic blockage and lateral advection of migrating organisms, may play a role in transporting micronekton from open-waters to seamount plateaus. These findings are critical to understanding the ecology of seamount communities and the function of seamount habitats in oceanic ecosystems.