Abstract
During the Dives Nos. 409, 410, 480 and 481 of the Japanese submersible Shinkai 2000, conducted on June 10 and 11, 1989 and on May 16 and 17, 1990, several hydrothermal vents and prosperous vent associated biological communities were found on the northern slope of the Iheya Ridge in the Mid-Okinawa Trough (27°32.5′ N, 126°58.5′ E: depth 1,400 m). The first site we found, the “Calyptogena Site”, was characterized by a relatively thick blanket of sediments, pleated and/or laminated lava flows, with occasional lobate pillows and white and yellow stains. Although no remarkable shimmering water and thermal anomalies were detected during the observations, the extraordinarily dense community must be related to hydrothermal activities. The community was dominated by the giant white clam, Calyptogena okutanii, in biomass, and by Neolepas-type primitive scalpellids and slender vestimentiferan tube-worms in number. The second site, the “Pyramid Site”, situated only 200 m northward from the Calyptogena Site has typical clear smokers emitting hot water over 200°C, and is characterized by a hard substratum of volcanic rocks and hydrothermal slabs. No noteworthy succession was perceived at the Calyptogena Site over a year. Many of the vent members occurred at both sites. However, Calyptogena okutanii, which were confined to the sediment bottom, Neolepas spp. and larger vestimentiferan tube-worms were found to thrive only at the Calyptogena Site, being only minor elements in the Pyramid Site. The global distribution of several groups of organisms is discussed preliminarily in zoogeographical terms based on comparison with other submersible missions and surveys done by surface vessels.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Auzende, J.-M., E. Honza, X. Boespflug, S. Deo, J.-P. Eissen, J. Hashimoto, P. Huchon, J. Ishibashi, Y. Iwabuchi, P. Jarvis, M. Joshima, K. Kisimoto, Y. Kuwahara, Y. LaFoy, T. Matsumoto, J.-P. Maze, K. Mitsuzawa, H. Monma, T. Naganuma, Y. Nojiri, S. Ohta, K. Otsuka, Y. Okuda, H. Ondreas, A. Otsuki, E. Ruellan, M. Sibuet, M. Tanahashi, T. Tanaka and T. Urabe (1988): L'accretion recente dans le Bassin Nord-Fidjien: premiers resultats de la campagne franco-japonaise Kaiyo 87. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. II, 306, 971-978.
Baba, K. and A. B. Williams (1998): New Galatheoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) from hydrothermal systems in the West Pacific Ocean: Bismarck Archipelago and Okinawa Trough. Zoosystema, 20, 143-156.
Both, R., K. Crook, B. Taylor, S. Borgan, B. Chappell, E. Frankel, L. Liu, J. Sinton and D. Tiffin (1986): Hydrothermal chimneys and associated fauna in the Manus Back-Arc Basin, Papua New Guinea. Eos, 67, 489-491.
Bouchet, P. and A. Warren (1991): Ifremeria nautilei, nouveau gastéropode d'évents hydrothermaux, probablement associé a des bactéries symbiotiques. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. III, 312, 495-501.
Campbell, A. C., T. S. Bowers, C. I. Measures, K. K. Falkner, M. Khadem and J. M. Edmond (1988): A time series of vent fluid compositions from 21, East Pacific Rise (1979, 1981, 1985), and the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California (1982, 1985). J. Geophys. Res., 93(B5), 4537-4549.
Cavanaugh, C. M., S. L. Gardiner, M. L. Jones, H. W. Jannasch and J. B. Waterbury (1981): Prokaryotic cells in the hydrothermal vent tube worm Riftia pachyptila Jones: possible chemoautotrophic symbionts. Science, 213, 340-342.
Desbruyères, D. and L. Laubier (1989): Paralvinella hessleri, new species of Alvinellidae (Polychaeta) from the Mariana back-ark basin hydrothermal vents. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 102, 761-767.
Desbruyères, D., A.-M. Alayse-Danet, S. Ohta and the scientific parties of BIOLAU and STARMER Cruise (1994): Deep-sea hydrothermal communities in Southwestern Pacific back-arc basins (the North Fiji and Lau Basins); composition, microdistribution and food web. Mar. Geol., 116, 227-242.
Felbeck, H. (1981): Chemoautotrophic potential of the hydrothermal vent tube worm, Riftia pachyptila Jones (Vestimentifera). Science, 209, 336-338.
Fujikura, K., S. Kojima, Y. Fujiwara, J. Hashimoto and T. Okutani (2000): New distribution records of vesicomyid bivalves from deep-sea chemosynthesis-based communities in Japanese waters. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 59, 103-121.
Fustec, A., D. Desbruyères and S. K. Juniper (1987): Deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities at 13° on the East Pacific Rise: microdistribution and temporal variations. Biol. Oceanogr., 4, 121-164.
Gamo, T., H. Sakai, J. Ishibashi, T. Oomori, H. Chiba, K. Shitashima, K. Nakashima, Y. Tanaka and H. Masuda (1991): Growth mechanism of the hydrothermal mounds at the Clam Site, Mid Okinawa Trough, inferred from their morphological, mineralogical and chemical characteristics. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 7, 163-184.
Grassle, J. F. (1986): The ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities. Adv. Mar. Biol., 23, 301-362.
Hashimoto, J. and T. Okutani (1994): Four new mytilid mussels associated with deepsea chemosynthetic communities around Japan. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 53, 61-83.
Hashimoto, J., T. Tanaka, S. Matsuzawa and H. Hotta (1987): Surveys of the deep sea communities dominated by the giant clam, Calyptogena soyoae, along the slope foot of Hatsushima Island, Sagami Bay. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 4, 177-188.
Hashimoto, J., S. Ohta, T. Tanaka, H. Hotta, H. Matsuzawa and H. Sakai (1989): Deep-sea communities dominated by the giant clam, Calyptogena soyoae, along the slope foot of Hatsushima Island, Sagami Bay, Central Japan. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 71, 179-192.
Hashimoto, J., T. Miura, K. Fujikura and J. Ossaka (1993): Discovery of vestimentiferan tube-worms in the euphotic zone. Zool. Sci., 10, 1063-1067.
Hashimoto, J., S. Ohta, K. Fujikura and T. Miura (1995): Microdistribution pattern and biogeography of the hydrothermal vent communities of the Minami-Ensei Knoll in the Mid-Okinawa Trough, Western Pacific. Deep-Sea Res., 42, 577-598.
Hecker, B. (1985): Fauna from a cold sulfur-seep in the Gulf of Mexico: comparison with hydrothermal vent communities and evolutionary implications. Bull. Biol. Soc. Washington, 1985(6), 465-473.
Hessler, R. R. and W. M. Smithey, Jr. (1983): The distribution and community structure of megafauna at the Galapagos Rift hydrothermal vents. p. 735-770. In Hydrothermal Process at Seafloor Spreading Centers, ed. by P. A. Rona, K. Boström, L. Laubier and K. L. Smith, Jr., NATO Conference Series IV, Plenum Press, New York.
Hessler, R. R., W. M. Smithey, Jr. and C. H. Keller (1985): Spatial and temporal variation of giant clams, tube worms and mussels at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Bull. Biol. Soc. Washington, 1985(6), 411-428.
Hessler, R. R., P. Lonsdale and J. Hawkins (1988a): Patterns on the ocean floor. New Scientist, No. 24, 47-51.
Hessler, R. R., W. M. Smithey, M. A. Boudrias, C. H. Keller, R. A. Lutz and J. J. Childress (1988b): Temporal change in megafauna at the Rose Garden hydrothermal vent (Galapagos Rift; Eastern Tropical Pacific). Deep-Sea Res., 35, 1681-1709.
Ishibashi, J., Y. Sano, H. Wakita, T. Gamo, M. Tsutsumi and H. Sakai (1990): Geochemical studies on the hydrothermal activity in the Mid-Okinawa Trough: characterization of hydrothermal fluids from chemical and isotopical composition of the gas compounds. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 63-68.
Jannasch, H. W. and M. J. Mottl (1985): Geomicrobiology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Science, 229, 717-725.
Johnson, K. S., C. L. Beehler, C. M. Sakamoto-Arnold and J. J. Childress (1986): In situ measurements of chemical distributions in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent field. Science, 231, 1139-1141.
Johnson, K. S., J. J. Childress, R. R. Hessler, C. M. Sakamoto-Arnold and C. L. Beehler (1988): Chemical and biological interactions in the Rose Garden hydrothermal vent field, Galapagos Spreading Center. Deep-Sea Res., 35, 1723-1744.
Jones, M. L. (1985): The vestimentiferans of the Eastern Pacific, with comments on specimens from the Gulf of Mexico. Bull. Biol. Soc. Washington, 1985(6), 117-158.
Jones, M. L. (1987): On the status of the phylum-name, and other names, of the vestimentiferan tube worms. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 100, 1049-1050.
Jones, M. L. (1988): The vestimentifera, their biology and systematic and evolutionary patterns. p. 69-82. In Actes du Colloque Hydrothermalisme, Biologie et Ecologie, ed. by L. Laubier, Special Vol. No. 8, Oceanol. Acta.
Kato, Y., K. Nakamura, Y. Iwabuchi, J. Hashimoto and Y. Kaneko (1989): Geology and topography in the Izena Hole of the Middle Okinawa Trough—the results of diving surveys in 1987 and 1988. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 5, 163-182.
Kikuchi, T. and S. Ohta (1995): Two caridean shrimps of the families Bresiliidae and Hippolytidae from a hydrothermal field on the Iheya Ridge, off the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. J. Crust. Biol., 15, 771-785.
Kikuchi, T., T. Toda, T. Nemoto and S. Ohta (1990): Preliminary survey on the deepsea near bottom zooplankton by means of deep-sea submersible Shinkai 2000. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 115-122.
Kim, D.-S. (1992): Oceanographic and ecological studies of hydrothermal vent and cold seep communities of the Western Pacific. M.Sc. Thesis, The University of Tokyo, 117 pp.
Kim, D.-S. and S. Ohta (2000): TEM observation studies on the chemoautotrophic symbiotic bacteria of invertebrates inhabiting at vents and seeps. Ocean Res., 22, 1-13.
Kim, E.-S., H. Sakai, T. Gamo, J. Hashimoto, S. Ohta and F. Yanagisawa (1990): Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotopic ratios in hydrothermal vent animals from the Mid-Okinawa Trough. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 129-137.
Kimura, M., T. Tanaka, M. Kyo, M. Ando, T. Oomori, E. Izawa and I. Yoshikawa (1989): Study of topography, hydrothermal deposits and animal colonies in the middle Okinawa Trough hydrothermal areas using the submersible Shinkai 2000 system. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 5, 223-234.
Kojima, S. and S. Ohta (1997a): Calyptogena okutanii n. sp., a sibling species of Calyptogena soyoae Okutani, 1957 (Bivalvia, Vesicomyidae). Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 56, 189-195.
Kojima, S. and S. Ohta (1997b): Bathymetrical distribution of the species of the genus Calyptogena in the Nankai Trough, Japan. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 56, 293-297.
Kojima, S., R. Segawa, Y. Fujiwara, K. Fujikura, S. Ohta and J. Hashimoto (2001): Phylogeny of hydrothermal-vent-endemic gastropods Alviniconcha spp. From the Western Pacific revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Biol. Bull., 200, 298-304.
Laubier, L. and D. Desbruyères (1984): Les oasis du fond des oceans. La Recherche, No. 15, 1506-1517.
Laubier, L. and D. Desbruyères (1985): Oases at the bottom of the ocean. Endeaver, New Series, 9(2), 67-76.
Le Pichon, X., T. Iiyama, J. Boulegue, J. Charvet, M. Faure, K. Kano, S. Lallemant, H. Okada, C. Rangin, A. Taira, T. Urabe and S. Uyeda (1987): Nankai Trough and Zenisu Ridge: a deep-sea submersible survey. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 83, 285-299.
Lilley, M. D., J. A. Baross and L. I. Gordon (1983): Reduced bases and bacteria in hydrothermal fluids: the Galapagos Spreading Center and 21 East Pacific Rise. p. 411-449. In Hydrothermal Processes at Seafloor Spreading Centers, ed. by P. A. Rona, K. Boström, L. Laubier and K. L. Smith, Jr., Plenum Press, New York.
Metivier, B., T. Okutani and S. Ohta (1986): Calyptogena (Ectenagena) phaseoliformis n. sp., an unusual vesicomyid bivalve collected by the submersible Nautile from abyssal depths of the Japan and Kurile Trenches. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 45, 161-168.
Miura, T. and S. Ohta (1991): Two polychaete species from the deep-sea hydrothermal vent in the Middle Okinawa Trough. Zool. Sci., 8, 383-387.
Miura, T., J. Tsukahara and J. Hashimoto (1997): Lamellibrachia satsuma, a new species of vestimentiferan worms (Annelida; Pogonophora) from a shallow hydrothermal vent in Kagoshima Bay, Japan. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 110, 447-456.
Newman, W. A. (1979): A new scalpellid (Cirripedia); a Mesozoic relic living near an abyssal hydrothermal spring. Transact. San Diego Soc. Nat. His., 19, 153-167.
Newman, W. A. and R. R. Hessler (1989): A new abyssal hydrothermal verrucomorphan (Cirripedia; Sessilia): The most primitive living sessile barnacle. Transact. San Diego Soc. Nat. His., 21, 259-273.
Ohta, S. (1983): Photographic census of large-sized benthic organisms in the bathyal zone of Suruga Bay, central Japan. Bull. Ocean Res. Inst., Univ. Tokyo, No. 15, 1-244.
Ohta, S. (1988). Biological processes in the hydrothermal vent fields. Geochemistry, 22, 87-95.
Ohta, S. (1990a): Several ecological notes on the seepage ecosystem of Sagami Bay. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 181-196.
Ohta, S. (1990b): Hydrothermal vent communities on the Iheya Ridge, Okinawa Trough. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 145-156.
Ohta, S. and L. Laubier (1987): Deep biological communities in the subduction zone of Japan from bottom photographs taken during “Nautile” dives in the Kaiko Project. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 83, 329-342.
Ohta, S., H. Sakai, A. Taira, K. Ohwada, T. Ishii, M. Maeda, K. Fujioka, T. Saino, K. Kogure, T. Gamo, Y. Shirayama, T. Furuta, T. Ishizuka, K. Endo, T. Sumi, H. Hotta, J. Hashimoto, N. Handa and M. Horikoshi (1987): Initial report of the Calyptogena communities to the southeast of Hatsushima, Sagami Bay, Japan. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 3, 51-60.
Okutani, T. and Y. Fujiwara (2000): Gastropod fauna of a thermal vent site on the North Knoll of Iheya Ridge, Okinawa Trough. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 59, 123-128.
Okutani, T. and S. Ohta (1988): A new gastropod mollusk associated with hydrothermal vents in the Mariana Back-arc Basin, Western Pacific. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 47, 1-9.
Okutani, T., J. Hashimoto and K. Fujikura (1992): A new species of vesicomyid bivalve associated with hydrothermal vents near Amami-Oshima Island, Japan. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 51, 225-233.
Okutani, T., K. Fujikura and S. Kojima (2000): New taxa and review of vesicomyid bivalves collected from the Northwest Pacific by deep sea research systems of Japan Marine Science & Technology Center. Venus (Jap. J. Malac.), 59, 83-101.
Sakai, H., T. Gamo, K. Endow, J. Ishibashi, T. Ishizuka, F. Yanagisawa, M. Kusakabe, T. Akagi, G. Igarashi and S. Ohta (1987): Geochemical study of the bathyal seep communities at the Hatsushima Site, Sagami Bay, Central Japan. Geochem. J., 21, 227-236.
Sakai, H., T. Gamo, E.-S. Kim, M. Tsutsumi, T. Tanaka, J. Ishibashi, H. Wakita, M. Yamano and T. Oomori (1990): Venting of carbon dioxide-rich fluid and hydrate formation in Mid-Okinawa Trough backarc basin. Science, 248, 1093-1096.
Sakai, H., M. Yamano, T. Tanaka, T. Gamo, E.-S. Kim, J. Ishibashi, K. Shitashima, T. Matsumoto, T. Omori, F. Yanagisawa and M. Tsutsumi (1991): Geochemical studies of the hydrothermal system at the Izena Cauldron using Shinkai 2000—report on dive numbers 413 and 415, and on the liquid CO2 bubbles and hydrate collected during dives number 414. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 6, 69-85.
Sibuet, M. and K. Olu (1998): Biogeography, biodiversity and fluid dependence of deep-sea cold-seep communities at active and passive margins. Deep-Sea Res., 45, 517-567.
Somero, G. N., J. F. Siebenaller and P. W. Hochachka (1983): Biochemical and physiological adaptations of deep-sea animals. p. 261-330. In Deep-Sea Biology, The Sea, Vol. 8, ed. by G. T. Rowe, Wiley, New York.
Stein, J. L., S. C. Cary, R. R. Hessler, S. Ohta, R. D. Vetter, J. J. Childress and H. Felbeck (1988): Chemoautotrophic symbiosis in a hydrothermal vent gastropod. Biol. Bull., 174, 373-378.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi and S. Ohta (1988): N-terminal amino acid sequence of the deep-sea tube worm haemoglobin remarkably resembles that of annelid haemoglobin. Biochem. J., 255, 541-545.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi and S. Ohta (1989a): Amino acid sequence of the dimeric hemoglobin (Hb I) from the deep-sea cold-seep clam Calyptogena soyoae and the phylogenetic relationship with other molluscan globins. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 993, 254-259.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi and S. Ohta (1989b): Primary structure of a dimeric haemoglobin from the deep-sea cold clam Calyptogena soyoae. Biochem. J., 260, 177-182.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi, K. Okuda, T. Furukohri and S. Ohta (1989c): The deep-sea tube worm hemoglobin: subunit structure and phylogenetic relationship with annelid hemoglobin. Zool. Sci., 6, 915-926.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi and S. Ohta (1990a): Primary structure of a linker subunit of the tube worm 3000-kDa hemoglobin. J. Biol. Chem., 265, 1551-1555.
Suzuki, T., T. Takagi and S. Ohta (1990b): Primary structure of a constituent polypeptide chain (AIII) of the giant haemoglobin from the deep-sea tube worm Lamellibrachia: a possible H2S-binding site. Biochem. J., 266, 221-225.
Takeda, M. and J. Hashimoto (1990). A new species of the genus Paralomis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Lithodidae) from the Minami-Ensei Knoll in the Mid-Okinawa Trough. Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus., Ser. A (Zool.), 16, 79-88.
Takeda, M., J. Hashimoto and S. Ohta (2000): A new species of the family Bythograeidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) from the hydrothermal vents along volcanic front of the Philippine Sea Plate. Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus., Ser. A (Zool.), 26, 159-172.
Tanaka, T., K. Mitsuzawa and H. Hotta (1989): Shinkai 2000 diving surveys in the east of Iheya Small Ridge in the central Okinawa Trough. JAMSTECTR Deepsea Res., No. 5, 267-282.
Tunnicliffe, V. (1991): The biology of hydrothermal vents: ecology and evolution. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Rev., 29, 319-407.
Webb, M. (1969): Lamellibrachia barhami, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pogonophora), from the Northeast Pacific. Bull. Mar. Sci., 19, 18-47.
Williams, A. B. and F. A. Chace, Jr. (1982): A new caridean shrimp of the family Bresiliidae from thermal vents of the Galapagos Rift. J. Crust. Biol., 2, 136-147.
Yamaguchi, T. and W. A. Newman (1997a): A new and primitive barnacle (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) from the North Fiji Basin, abyssal hydrothermal field, and its evolutionary implications. Pac. Sci., 44, 135-155.
Yamaguchi, T. and W. A. Newman (1997b): The hydrothermal vent barnacle Eochionelasmus (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha) from the North Fiji, Lau and Manus Basins, South-West Pacific. Zoosystema, 19, 623-649.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ohta, S., Kim, D. Submersible Observations of the Hydrothermal Vent Communities on the Iheya Ridge, Mid Okinawa Trough, Japan. Journal of Oceanography 57, 663–677 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021620023610
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021620023610