Abstract
Seamounts are ubiquitous topographic features across all ocean basins. They rise steeply through the water column from abyssal depths. Depending on their size, shape and summit depths, seamounts reportedly have an impact on the physical flow regimes which may promote the aggregation of zooplankton, micronekton, and top predators above or in the immediate vicinity of their summits. Micronekton form a key trophic link between zooplankton and top marine predators and are divided into four broad categories: gelatinous plankton, crustaceans, cephalopods and mesopelagic fishes. The vertical and horizontal distributions, assemblages and trophic relationships of micronekton were investigated at two shallow seamounts of the south-western Indian Ocean. La Pérouse seamount is a steep bathymetric feature rising from a deep seabed located at 5000 m and with a summit depth at ~ 60 m below the sea surface. The seamount is located at the north-western periphery of the oligotrophic Indian South Subtropical Gyre province. MAD-Ridge seamount (“thus called in this study”), is ~ 240 m below the sea surface rising from a base located at ~2400 m. The seamount is located within an “eddy corridor” to the south of Madagascar within the productive East African Coastal Province. Chapter 4 investigates the influence of mesoscale eddies, Madagascar shelf and shallow seamounts on the distribution of micronekton using an acoustic approach. It is demonstrated that mesoscale eddies and the continental shelf may show enhanced acoustic densities of micronekton compared to MAD-Ridge seamount. The micronekton acoustic densities were also greater at MAD-Ridge compared to La Pérouse, in accordance with the difference in productivity between the two sites. Chapter 5 is dedicated to the micronekton assemblages and diel migration patterns of micronekton communities. It is shown that, while the shallow scattering layer (0-200 m) consisted of oceanic micronekton species; the summits and flanks of La Pérouse and MAD-Ridge showed presence of resident or seamount-associated species both during the day and night. I also discussed the different migration strategies of micronekton. Chapter 6 investigates the stable isotope patterns of mesopelagic communities at La Pérouse and MAD-Ridge. Despite the differing productivity at La Pérouse and MAD-Ridge, gelatinous organisms, crustaceans, smaller-sized squids and mesopelagic fishes exhibited trophic levels ranging from 2 to 4 at both seamounts. This thesis highlights important knowledge gaps on seamount ecosystems and ecological patterns associated to shallow seamounts. It also underlines the importance of studying seamount ecosystems of the south-western Indian Ocean in order to promote management and conservation measures for a sustainable use of such specific environments.