Seabed Communities
摘要
Benthic systems on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) are fuelled by two main energy sources: in-situ chemosynthetic production and/or photosynthetic production that is transported from the distant euphotic zone. The chapter summarises information on the functioning of seabed communities of MAR (their energy sources and trophic pathways), abundance and biomass, natural variability and degree of endemism; it also explores the microbial communities of the MAR bottom.