Biological communities at the Florida Escarpment resemble hydrothermal vent taxa
Science
By: C. K. Paull, Barbara Hecker, R. Commeau, R. P. Freeman-Lynde, C. Neumann, W.P. Corso, S. Golubic, J.E. Hook, E. Sikes, and J. Curray
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Abstract
Dense biological communities of large epifaunal taxa similar to those found along ridge crest vents at the East Pacific Rise were discovered in the abyssal Gulf of Mexico. These assemblages occur on a passive continental margin at the base of the Florida Escarpment, the interface between the relatively impermeable hemipelagic clays of the distal Mississippi Fan and the jointed Cretaceous limestone of the Florida Platform. The fauna apparently is nourished by sulfide rich hypersaline waters seeping out at near ambient temperatures onto the sea floor.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Biological communities at the Florida Escarpment resemble hydrothermal vent taxa |
| Series title | Science |
| DOI | 10.1126/science.226.4677.965 |
| Volume | 226 |
| Issue | 4677 |
| Year Published | 1984 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Description | 3 p. |
| First page | 965 |
| Last page | 967 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| Other Geospatial | Florida Escarpment |