Study of biological processes on the US South Atlantic slope and rise. Phase 1: Benthic characterization. Volume 2. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6109922

Blake, J A; Hecker, B; Grassle, J F; Maciolek-Blake, N; Brown, B

Concerns about the potential effects of oil and gas exploration on the U.S. Continental Slope and Rise led to the initiation of a deep-sea characterization study off North Carolina. The biological communities off North Carolina were poorly known, and prior to any drilling activities, a limited regional data base was required. The program included a seasonal characterization of biological and surficial geological properties at a limited number of slope and rise sites, with special emphasis on areas of high oil industry interest. A rich and highly diverse benthic infauna was discovered, with a large percentage of the 877 species being new to science. Annelids were the dominant taxa both in terms of density, numbers of species, and biomass. Foraminiferan tests comprised most of the sand fraction. Hydrographic data indicated some intrusion of colder water on the upper slope benthos from deeper water.

• Research Organization: Battelle New England Marine Research Lab., Duxbury, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6109922
• Report Number(s): PB-86-125549/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SLOPE
DRILLING
FORAMINIFERA
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INVERTEBRATES
MARINE SURVEYS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLLUTION
PROTOZOA
RESOURCES
SARCODINA
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SURVEYS
WATER POLLUTION