Deep-sea ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean: discovery, status, function and future challenges

The North Atlantic is an ocean basin with a diversity of deep-sea ecosystems. Here we provide a summary of the topography and oceanography of the North Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, provide a brief overview of the history of scientific research therein, and review the current status of knowledge of each of 18 pelagic and benthic deep-sea ecosystems, with a particular focus on knowledge gaps. We analyse biodiversity data records across the North Atlantic and highlight spatial data gaps that could provide important foci for future expeditions. We note particular data gaps in EEZs of nations within and bordering the Caribbean Sea. Our data provide a baseline against which progress can be tracked into the future. We review human impacts caused by fishing, shipping, mineral extraction, introduction of substances, and climate change, and provide an overview of international, regional and national measures to protect ecosystems. We recommend that scientific research in the deep sea should focus on increasing knowledge of the distribution and the connectivity of key species and habitats, and increasing our understanding of the processes leading to the delivery of ecosystem services. These three pillars - distribution, connectivity, ecosystem function - will provide the knowledge required to implement conservation and management measures to ensure that any deep-sea development in the future is sustainable. Infrastructure and capacity are unevenly distributed and implementation of strategies that will lead to more equitable deep-sea science is required to ensure that essential science can be delivered. • We review the current status of knowledge of 18 pelagic and benthic deep-sea ecosystems across the North Atlantic. • We advocate prioritizing scientific research that leads to 1) increased knowledge of the distribution of key species and habitats; 2) increased knowledge of connectivity of species and habitats; and 3) better understanding of the processes leading to the delivery of ecosystems services. • Largest data gaps exist in Caribbean EEZs, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and sub-ocean basins such as the Cape Verde, Newfoundland, and North American basins. • Developing sufficient knowledge and understanding to support sustainable development of the North Atlantic requires equitable access to ocean infrastructures, investment in capacity sharing, and substantial investment in equitable ocean science by governments, industry, philanthropy and private investors.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers
Published
2025-08-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2025.104580
Primary Topic
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Deep-sea ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean: discovery, status, function and future challenges

Michelle L. Taylor, Sofia P. Ramalho, Geethani Bandara, Angela Stevenson et al.
1 links
Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
article

Deep-sea ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean: discovery, status, function and future challenges

Michelle L. Taylor, Sofia P. Ramalho, Geethani Bandara, Angela Stevenson, Diva J. Amon, Ana Hilário, Henk‐Jan Hoving, Telmo Morato, Beatriz Naranjo‐Elizondo, Andreia Braga‐Henriques, Jörundur Svavarsson, Régis Santos, Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Frank Müller‐Karger, Jaime S. Davies, Marta Gomes, Daniel O. B. Jones, Teresa Amaro, Nélia C. Mestre, Véronique Merten, Anna M. Addamo, Inmaculada Frutos, Marian Peña, Joana R. Xavier, Tammy Horton, Saskia Brix, Amelia E.H. Bridges, Sergio Cambronero‐Solano, Nadescha Zwerschke, Nicola L. Foster, Rebecca E. Ross, Bhavani E. Narayanaswamy, Erik E. Cordes, Narissa Bax, Steinunn H. Ólafsdóttir, Tina N. Molodtsova, Tracey Sutton, Jon Copley, Nils Piechaud, Thomas F. Hourigan, Stefan Ragnarsson, Jesse van der Grient, Andrew R. Gates, Anna Meta×as, Patrick Schwing, Imants G. Priede, Elva Escobar‐Briones, Siddhi Joshi, Hanieh Saeedi, Declan Morrissey, Rosanna Milligan, Aldo Cróquer, Kelly Kingon, Patricia Esquete, Jennifer M. Durden, A. Louise Allcock, Jorge Cortés, Kerry L. Howell, Clara F. Rodrigues, Daphné Cuvelier, Ana Colaço, Lucy V.M. Goodwin, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexa Parimbelli, Ana María Martins, Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, Angelika Brandt, Arvind K. Shantharam, Anne‐Nina Lörz, Ana Belén Yánez-Suárez, Cristina Cedeño – Posso, Tiago Serpa
article en

Abstract

The North Atlantic is an ocean basin with a diversity of deep-sea ecosystems. Here we provide a summary of the topography and oceanography of the North Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, provide a brief overview of the history of scientific research therein, and review the current status of knowledge of each of 18 pelagic and benthic deep-sea ecosystems, with a particular focus on knowledge gaps. We analyse biodiversity data records across the North Atlantic and highlight spatial data gaps that could provide important foci for future expeditions. We note particular data gaps in EEZs of nations within and bordering the Caribbean Sea. Our data provide a baseline against which progress can be tracked into the future. We review human impacts caused by fishing, shipping, mineral extraction, introduction of substances, and climate change, and provide an overview of international, regional and national measures to protect ecosystems. We recommend that scientific research in the deep sea should focus on increasing knowledge of the distribution and the connectivity of key species and habitats, and increasing our understanding of the processes leading to the delivery of ecosystem services. These three pillars - distribution, connectivity, ecosystem function - will provide the knowledge required to implement conservation and management measures to ensure that any deep-sea development in the future is sustainable. Infrastructure and capacity are unevenly distributed and implementation of strategies that will lead to more equitable deep-sea science is required to ensure that essential science can be delivered. • We review the current status of knowledge of 18 pelagic and benthic deep-sea ecosystems across the North Atlantic. • We advocate prioritizing scientific research that leads to 1) increased knowledge of the distribution of key species and habitats; 2) increased knowledge of connectivity of species and habitats; and 3) better understanding of the processes leading to the delivery of ecosystems services. • Largest data gaps exist in Caribbean EEZs, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and sub-ocean basins such as the Cape Verde, Newfoundland, and North American basins. • Developing sufficient knowledge and understanding to support sustainable development of the North Atlantic requires equitable access to ocean infrastructures, investment in capacity sharing, and substantial investment in equitable ocean science by governments, industry, philanthropy and private investors.

Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research PapersVol. 226
Goethe University Frankfurt (DE), University of Insubria (IT), Universidade dos Açores (PT), Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA), University of Kelaniya (LK), University of Miami (US), University of California, Santa Barbara (US), Universität Hamburg (DE), University of Trinidad and Tobago (TT), Universidade do Porto (PT), Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE), University of Aberdeen (GB), Madeira Tecnopolo (PT), Nord University (NO), Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M (DE), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (GB), Ghent University (BE), Centre for Marine Socioecology (AU), Grønlands Naturinstitut (GL), Senckenberg am Meer (DE), University of Bergen (NO), University of Aveiro (PT), University of Algarve (PT), University of South Florida St. Petersburg (US), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX), University of Plymouth (GB)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Marine Biology and Ecology Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.