Characterizing benthic community structure across Western Pacific seamounts to ~5,000 m depth: Implications for conservation

作者：Jun‐Long Huang, Lu Xun, Dong Sun, Marie‐Josée Fortin · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.64898/2026.07.30.741913 · 研究领域：Marine Biology and Ecology Research、Marine and coastal plant biology、Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

Aim Seamounts are key components of deep-sea ecosystems. Yet, their biodiversity patterns and conservation needs remain poorly understood, presenting a critical knowledge gap as they face multiple environmental stressors. Here, we aim to characterize benthic community structure across multiple seamounts along the Kyushu Palau Ridge (KPR) and identify conservation priorities. Location Philippine Sea in the Western Pacific. Major taxa studied Deep sea benthos. Methods We surveyed six transects (13.3N to 22.9N; 614 to 5,055 m depth; 165 km in total length) using a towed camera system, yielding 31,342 images and 14,218 identified individuals. Community structure was assessed through species depth range overlap analysis to distinguish nestedness versus turnover patterns. beta diversity was partitioned into local contributions (LCBD) and species contributions (SCBD) to evaluate site level uniqueness and species level influence. Generalized linear mixed models were used to relate LCBD and SCBD to depth, slope, aspect, bathymetric position, and functional traits. Results Community structures varied among slopes and seamounts. Western, steeper slopes were dominated by nestedness, whereas gentler eastern slopes showed mixed patterns of nestedness and gradual turnover. Sessile species largely exhibited nestedness, while mobile taxa showed mixed structures. LCBD declined with depth overall but increased on north facing slopes and sites with higher broad scale bathymetric position. Wide r...