Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano
Abstract Borealis is a recently discovered submerged mud volcano in the Polar North Atlantic, differing from the numerous methane seepages previously identified in the region. Here we show in situ observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capturing the release of warm (11.5 °C) Neogene se...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55712-x |
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| author | Giuliana Panieri Claudio Argentino Alessandra Savini Bénédicte Ferré Fereshteh Hemmateenejad Mari H. Eilertsen Rune Mattingsdal Sofia P. Ramalho Tor Eidvin Sarah Youngs Beckett Casper Colson Anna Pauline Miranda Michel Jason Alexander Kapit Denise Swanborn Alex D. Rogers Ines Barrenechea Angeles Stéphane Polteau Dimitri Kalenitchenko Stefan Buenz Adriano Mazzini |
| author_facet | Giuliana Panieri Claudio Argentino Alessandra Savini Bénédicte Ferré Fereshteh Hemmateenejad Mari H. Eilertsen Rune Mattingsdal Sofia P. Ramalho Tor Eidvin Sarah Youngs Beckett Casper Colson Anna Pauline Miranda Michel Jason Alexander Kapit Denise Swanborn Alex D. Rogers Ines Barrenechea Angeles Stéphane Polteau Dimitri Kalenitchenko Stefan Buenz Adriano Mazzini |
| author_sort | Giuliana Panieri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Borealis is a recently discovered submerged mud volcano in the Polar North Atlantic, differing from the numerous methane seepages previously identified in the region. Here we show in situ observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capturing the release of warm (11.5 °C) Neogene sediments and methane-rich fluids from a gryphon at Borealis. The surrounding seafloor within the mud volcano features extensive carbonate deposits, indicating prolonged diffuse methane migration. Sampling and imagery reveal that Borealis supports unique habitats adapted to low-oxygen conditions near methane seeps. Additionally, the irregularly shaped carbonate structures serve as a natural shelter from bottom trawling and a substratum for sessile fauna and may function as nursery grounds for threatened fish species. This discovery underscores the ecological significance of cold seep ecosystems in the Polar North Atlantic, highlighting their role in biodiversity by serving as refuges for marine species and emphasizing the need for their conservation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9475c9e62545436d9c1bc32e88524fee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-9475c9e62545436d9c1bc32e88524fee2025-02-02T12:31:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111110.1038/s41467-024-55712-xSanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud VolcanoGiuliana Panieri0Claudio Argentino1Alessandra Savini2Bénédicte Ferré3Fereshteh Hemmateenejad4Mari H. Eilertsen5Rune Mattingsdal6Sofia P. Ramalho7Tor Eidvin8Sarah Youngs9Beckett Casper Colson10Anna Pauline Miranda Michel11Jason Alexander Kapit12Denise Swanborn13Alex D. Rogers14Ines Barrenechea Angeles15Stéphane Polteau16Dimitri Kalenitchenko17Stefan Buenz18Adriano Mazzini19Department of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayDepartment of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano BicoccaDepartment of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano BicoccaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Centre for Deep Sea Research, University of BergenNorwegian Offshore DirectorateCentre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Biology Department, University of AveiroDronningåsen 14WHOI, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWHOI, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWHOI, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWHOI, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionMinderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, University of Western AustraliaOcean Census, Begbroke Science ParkDepartment of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayReservoir Technology Department, Institute for Energy TechnologyDepartment of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayDepartment of Geosciences, UiT - The Arctic University of NorwayReservoir Technology Department, Institute for Energy TechnologyAbstract Borealis is a recently discovered submerged mud volcano in the Polar North Atlantic, differing from the numerous methane seepages previously identified in the region. Here we show in situ observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capturing the release of warm (11.5 °C) Neogene sediments and methane-rich fluids from a gryphon at Borealis. The surrounding seafloor within the mud volcano features extensive carbonate deposits, indicating prolonged diffuse methane migration. Sampling and imagery reveal that Borealis supports unique habitats adapted to low-oxygen conditions near methane seeps. Additionally, the irregularly shaped carbonate structures serve as a natural shelter from bottom trawling and a substratum for sessile fauna and may function as nursery grounds for threatened fish species. This discovery underscores the ecological significance of cold seep ecosystems in the Polar North Atlantic, highlighting their role in biodiversity by serving as refuges for marine species and emphasizing the need for their conservation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55712-x |
| spellingShingle | Giuliana Panieri Claudio Argentino Alessandra Savini Bénédicte Ferré Fereshteh Hemmateenejad Mari H. Eilertsen Rune Mattingsdal Sofia P. Ramalho Tor Eidvin Sarah Youngs Beckett Casper Colson Anna Pauline Miranda Michel Jason Alexander Kapit Denise Swanborn Alex D. Rogers Ines Barrenechea Angeles Stéphane Polteau Dimitri Kalenitchenko Stefan Buenz Adriano Mazzini Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano Nature Communications |
| title | Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano |
| title_full | Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano |
| title_fullStr | Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano |
| title_short | Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano |
| title_sort | sanctuary for vulnerable arctic species at the borealis mud volcano |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55712-x |
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