EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA) -- The Biota of Vailulu'u Seamount in the Samoan Archipelago

Description
Vailulu'u is the active seamount on the hotspot at the Eastern end of the Samoan volcanic chain, and has been the focus of two research cruises in April and June 2005 using the Pisces V submersible. The objectives of biological studies include the macrobiological and microbiological exploration of biota in a wide range of settings, including a newly formed volcanic cone, Nafanua forming a pronounced summit in the crater of Vailulu¿u, a series of hydrothermal vents up to 80¿C, and settings inside and outside the crater. In this keynote presentation for the First SBN Workhop Craig Young lays out all the evidence for a widely diverse group of biota as observed for Vailulu'u. In particular, he describes Eel City that has been occupied a large group of the synaphobranchid eel Dysommina rugosa.

Keywords
microbial mats, metazoan life, Copepod, Scale worms, Dysommina rugosa - Synaphobranchidae, Taylor columns, Otolith chemistry, polynoids, Moat of Death, Abyssocladia bruuni, Q-tip sponges, euryalid ophiuroids, gorgonians, Guillecrinus neocaledonicus, asteroids, galatheids, octocorals, Anthomastus

Project -- Meetings and Workshops -- SBN Workshops
The goal of the Seamount Biogeosciences Network (SBN) is to bring together all the diverse science disciplines involved in seamount research, to communicate about and discuss seamount science, and to explore innovative ways to network amongst the diverse communities working on seamounts.