Wicksten Mary K.

No Thumbnail Available
Last Name
Wicksten
First Name
Mary K.
ORCID

Filters

2010 - 2020 2
2
2
Reset filters

Settings

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Article
    Characterization of deep-sea benthic invertebrate megafauna of the Galapagos Islands
    (Nature Research, 2020-08-17) Salinas-de-León, Pelayo ; Martí-Puig, Patricia ; Buglass, Salome ; Arnés-Urgellés, Camila ; Rastoin-Laplane, Etienne ; Creemers, Marie ; Cairns, Stephen ; Fisher, Charles R. ; O’Hara, Timothy ; Ott, Bruce ; Raineault, Nicole A. ; Reiswig, Henry ; Rouse, Greg W. ; Rowley, Sonia ; Shank, Timothy M. ; Suarez, Jenifer ; Watling, Les ; Wicksten, Mary K. ; Marsh, Leigh
    The deep sea represents the largest and least explored biome on the planet. Despite the iconic status of the Galapagos Islands and being considered one of the most pristine locations on earth, the deep-sea benthic ecosystems of the archipelago are virtually unexplored in comparison to their shallow-water counterparts. In 2015, we embarked on a multi-disciplinary scientific expedition to conduct the first systematic characterization of deep-sea benthic invertebrate communities of the Galapagos, across a range of habitats. We explored seven sites to depths of over 3,300 m using a two-part Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system aboard the E/V Nautilus, and collected 90 biological specimens that were preserved and sent to experts around the world for analysis. Of those, 30 taxa were determined to be undescribed and new to science, including members of five new genera (2 sponges and 3 cnidarians). We also systematically analysed image frame grabs from over 85 h of ROV footage to investigate patterns of species diversity and document the presence of a range of underwater communities between depths of 290 and 3,373 m, including cold-water coral communities, extensive glass sponge and octocoral gardens, and soft-sediment faunal communities. This characterization of Galapagos deep-sea benthic invertebrate megafauna across a range of ecosystems represents a first step to study future changes that may result from anthropogenic impacts to the planet’s climate and oceans, and informed the creation of fully protected deep-water areas in the Galapagos Marine Reserve that may help preserve these unique communities in our changing planet.
  • Article
    Bathymetric zonation of deep-sea macrofauna in relation to export of surface phytoplankton production
    (Inter-Research, 2010-01-28) Wei, Chih-Lin ; Rowe, Gilbert T. ; Hubbard, G. Fain ; Scheltema, Amelie H. ; Wilson, George D. F. ; Petrescu, Iorgu ; Foster, John M. ; Wicksten, Mary K. ; Chen, Min ; Davenport, Roe ; Soliman, Yousria ; Wang, Yuning
    Macrobenthos of the deep, northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) was sampled with box cores (0.2 m2) along multiple cross-depth transects extending from depths of 200 m to the maximum depth of the basin at 3700 m. Bathymetric (depth) zonation of the macrofaunal community was documented for 6 major taxa (a total of 957 species) on the basis of shared species among geographic locations; 4 major depth zones were identified, with the 2 intermediate-depth zones being divided into east and west subzones. Change of faunal composition with depth reflects an underlying continuum of species replacements without distinct boundaries. The zonal patterns correlated with depth and detrital particulate organic carbon (POC) export flux estimated from remotely-sensed phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the surface water. The Mississippi River and its associated mesoscale eddies, submarine canyon, and deep sediment fan appear to influence the horizontal zonation pattern through export of organic carbon from the ocean surface and the adjacent continental margin. On the local scale, near-bottom currents may shape the zonation pattern by altering sediment grain size, food availability, and larval dispersal. This study suggests a macroecological relationship between depth, export POC flux, and zonation; parsimonious zonal thresholds need to be tested independently for other continental margin ecosystems.