Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano
Borealis is a recently discovered submerged mud volcano in the Polar North Atlantic, differing from the numerous methane seepages previously identified in the region. Here we show in situ observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capturing the release of warm (11.5 °C) Neogene sediments and methane-rich fluids from a gryphon at Borealis. The surrounding seafloor within the mud volcano features extensive carbonate deposits, indicating prolonged diffuse methane migration. Sampling and imagery reveal that Borealis supports unique habitats adapted to low-oxygen conditions near methane seeps. Additionally, the irregularly shaped carbonate structures serve as a natural shelter from bottom trawling and a substratum for sessile fauna and may function as nursery grounds for threatened fish species. This discovery underscores the ecological significance of cold seep ecosystems in the Polar North Atlantic, highlighting their role in biodiversity by serving as refuges for marine species and emphasizing the need for their conservation.
Authors
- Sofia P. Ramalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8714-4696)
- Adriano Mazzini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0913-8682)
- Mari Heggernes Eilertsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7904-3104)
- Beckett C. Colson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6234-3912)
- Anna P. M. Michel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9319-0592)
- Alessandra Savini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5818-5947)
- Jason Kapit (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6171-1024)
- Benedicte Ferré (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1646-9287)
- Inès Barrenechea Angeles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8051-4110)
- Stefan Büenz
- Tor Eidvin
- Giuliana Panieri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9411-1729)
- Stéphane Polteau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2773-558X)
- Dimitri Kalenitchenko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8316-0784)
- Rune Mattingsdal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0168-2405)
- Denise Swanborn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9040-2625)
- Sarah Youngs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1973-7075)
- Claudio Argentino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2680-4528)
- Alex D. Rogers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4864-2980)
- فرشته همتی نژاد (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7366-6465)
Institutions
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- National Oceanography Centre (GB)
- Institute for Energy Technology (NO)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- University of Aveiro (PT)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-01-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55712-x
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.74
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Universitetet i Tromsø
- Trond Mohn stiftelse
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
- Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre
- Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Marinhos, Universidade de Aveiro
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia