At a water depth of 750 m water depth, inside the complex pockmark, G11, at Nyegga, off Mid-Norway, we observed relatively high densities of the giant pycnogonid Collossendeis sp. This pockmark is 310 m long, 260 m wide, and 15 m deep. It hosts up to 10 m high carbonate cemented ridges and several gas hydrate 'pingoes' (see attached articles). It is known that there is an abundance of macro organisms inside this pockmark because of nutrient 'fertilization' by gas hydrate dissolution (underground) and seepage of both porewater and mineralized water from the dissociating hydrates. Also chemosynthetic species have been (small pogonophorans) have been sampled (by others) in this pockmark. The ambient water temperature at this location is -0.7 degrees C (sub-zero temperatures).
Article Distribution of sea spiders (Pycnogonida, Arthropoda) off no...
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