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East Pacific Rise — Current Experiment Coordination — Responses [ISS]

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TITLE

1. PI-Project Information

Name: Lauren Mullineaux (with Florence Pradillon and Monika Bright)
Institution: WHOI
Email address: lmullineaux@whoi.edu
Project Title: LADDER project
NSF-OCE number: ###
Upcoming cruise ID and dates: Atlantis, Oct. 2006, Dec. 2006, Nov. 2007

2. Planned Sampling Requirements

• 2.1. Types of Samples:

Gastropods and other macrofaunal species from basalt fragments

• 2.2. Type of Sample Locality:

We are conducting colonization experiments in lowT diffuse flow and active hiT chimney habitats. We work in four temperature ranges that correspond to typical faunas: 30-50°C (alvinellids), 10-30°C (tubeworms), 4-10°C (mussels) and 2-4°C (suspension feeders).

• 2.3. Seafloor Collection Devices to be Used:

Manipulator, slurp pumps, bioboxes

• 2.4. Seafloor Experiments to be Deployed:

Colonization "sandwiches" (plastic layered block, 10 cm³), basalt blocks (10 cm³), TRAC devices (for alvinellid colonization at hi-T), hobo temperature recorders.

3. Planned Duration of Seafloor Experiments:

Deployment 1: Oct. to Dec. 2006;
Deployment 2: Dec. 2006 to Nov. 2007

4. Constraints on Your Deployment Plans:

• 4.1. Will vehicle operations be allowable in your experiment area? If so, with what restrictions for sampling or imaging (e.g., non-invasive observations or mapping).

Yes, but we need to avoid any disturbance that alters the position of the colonization surfaces or their habitat (i.e., no collecting or measuring should be done within our "clump", and the sub should not be allowed to land on top of or direct its thrusters at the clump).

• 4.2. What is the proximity (meters distant) from your experiment(s) that future sampling can be done.

This is a tough call, but I think a 2-3 m standoff will protect our experiment while allowing investigators access to other nearby venting areas.

• 4.3. What is the proximity (meters distant) to which other in-situ instrument deployments can be made.

Same as above.

• 4.4. Will you be using acoustic devices or moorings?

Yes, Andreas Thurnherr will provide detailed maps and diagrams of the 9 LADDER moorings.

• 4.4. Are you looking for other experiments that can be co-located with your experiments?

We'd like to avoid any disturbance that would occur during placement of another experiment in the near vicinity.

• 4.5. Does your experiment require site protection? To what level of tolerance?

See above for standoff distance (3m) for colonization surfaces; see Thurnherr document for standoff distances for moorings.

5. Other Issues?

We presently have colonization experiments established at discrete diffuse-flow patches within Tica, near P-vent, and a few tens of meters south of Ty/Io. We will circulate a map and list of X-Y positions at the end of our October LADDER cruise.