Collected reports of commercial deep-water surveys carried out north and west of Shetland during RRS Charles Darwin cruise 123C3-4

Bett, B.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4977-9361. 2007 Collected reports of commercial deep-water surveys carried out north and west of Shetland during RRS Charles Darwin cruise 123C3-4. Southampton, UK, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, 124pp. (National Oceanography Centre Southampton Research and Consultancy Report 26)

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Abstract/Summary

RRS Charles Darwin cruise 123C3-4 formed part of the Atlantic Margin Environmental Survey (AMES) and also carried out commercially funded deep-water seabed surveys. This contribution details those activities and comprises four sections: Part A. Report of seagoing operations and seabed observations undertaken in Tranche 4 (West of Shetland) on behalf of Enterprise. This report addresses a survey of the deep (1030-1275m) Faroe- Shetland Channel (61°36´N 001°55´W) encompassing a range of habitats (open slope; lineated slope, contourite band; basin floor). These habitats are readily distinguished in terms of their megabenthic communities; example photographs of the seafloor and its associated fauna are provided. Part B. Report of seagoing operations and seabed observations undertaken in Tranches 65-67 (North of Shetland) on behalf of Statoil and BP. This report addresses a survey of the deep (900-1000m) slope North of Shetland (62°20´N 000°10´E) in a region of silty sand contourite deposit. The megabenthic communities are dominated by cerianthid anemones and stalked sponges and also notable for the occurrence of ‘giant’ seapens (Umbellula sp.). An intriguing observation is made of two occurrences (at separate sites some 7km apart) of fabric bags on the seafloor that appear to have attracted (scavenging) gastropods and prompted the deposition of numerous egg masses. Example photographs of the seafloor and its associated fauna are provided. Part C. Report of seabed observations made in the vicinity of Texaco site TX1: observation of a “tubeworm” patch. This report addresses a survey of the deep (1550m) Faroe-Shetland Channel floor (61°55´N 003°00´W). The survey is notable for recording what appeared to be small (c. 20m across) discrete patch of what appeared to be tubeworms (Siboglinidae). Example photographs of the seafloor and its associated fauna are provided. Part D. Assessment of Texaco site TX1 environmental data. This report addresses a survey of the deep (1550m) Faroe-Shetland Channel floor (61°55´N 003°00´W) and provides an analysis of physicochemical (hydrocarbons, heavy metals, sediments) and biological parameters (macrobenthos) at the survey site compared with 35 other sites in the deep Faroe-Shetland Channel obtained during the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network surveys of 1996 and 1998. Should you wish to consult or cite this report or any of its constituent parts please contact the author directly (Brian Bett, bjb@noc.soton.ac.uk, +44 (0)23 80596355).

Item Type:	Publication - Report (Other)
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Abstract deposited at the request of B.J.Bett. Any request to view the whole document should be directed to him - contact details included in abstract.
Additional Keywords:	AMES, Atlantic Margin Environmental Survey, benthos, box cores, BP, Charles Darwin, continental slope, contourites, cruise 123C3-4 2000, Enterprise, Faroe-Shetland Channel, gastropods, gravity core, habitats, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, macrobenthos, macrobenthos, megabenthos, megacorer, NE Atlantic, North of Shetland, particle size, photography, seabed sediments, Siboglinidae, Statoil, Texaco, tubeworms, Umbellula, videotape recordings, WASP, West of Shetland
Date made live:	20 Sep 2007 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/148399

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