INTRODUCTION
3
are natural phenomena. As yet the deep sea is exploited
only to a very limited extent, but this may change in
the future. Disposal of waste has become prominent on
the political agenda, particularly as land-based disposal
areas become saturated. The deep sea has already been
used for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste,
pharmaceuticals and dredge spoil (see Chapter 13).
Possibly more insidious is the use of the deep sea
in relation to climate change. There is evidence of
‘natural’ decadal-scale changes in the fauna of the
northeast Atlantic, possibly related to climate change.
The deep sea has also been suggested as a repository
for the excess carbon dioxide causing the so-called
‘greenhouse effect’. The vastness of the deep ocean
aids its very stability, but in localized areas this is
already being challenged. The public outcry over the
‘Brent Spar’ (see Chapter 13) demonstrates that public
awareness of this environment is increasing rapidly.
Finally, with the decline of continental-shelf fisheries,
fishing fleets are moving into deeper and deeper water,
and there is evidence that at least one deep-sea fish,
the orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), is already
overexploited.
THE DEEP SEA TODAY
What is the deep-sea? Ask virtually any deep-sea
biologist and you get a slightly different answer.
For most, it is the region below 200 m, representing
the transition from the continental shelves to the
continental slope. This is the boundary that has been
selected for this volume (see Chapter 2). Definitions
based on light penetration, depth of the mixed surface
layer, or temperature may be just as valid (see Gage
and Tyler, 1991).
The approach to this volume has been to examine
the deep sea from a number of facets, and differs
from the approach of most previous volumes in this
series. The linking theme between all the chapters is
the availability of energy for organisms in the water
column and at the deep-sea floor. Chapters 2, 3 and
4 examine environmental aspects of the deep sea –
specifically the deep-sea floor, the water column and
reducing environments. Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
examine the ecology of the major oceans and those
seas peripheral to the main ocean that have waters of
oceanic depth. Chapters 10, 11 and 12 examine some
of the specific processes that occur within the deep-sea
ecosystem; and Chapter 13 explores the anthropogenic
impact that has taken place or that may occur in the
future.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the
authors who have contributed to this volume. I may
be editor but it has been a collective enterprise by a
series of world-class scientists whose passion is for
the marine environment and the deep sea in particular.
I would also like to thank David Goodall for his
forbearance throughout its production.
REFERENCES
Forbes, E., 1844. Report on the Mollusca and Radiata of the Aegean
Sea, and their distribution, considered as bearing on geology.
Report (1843) to the 13th meeting of the British Association for
the Advancement of Science, pp. 30–193.
Gage, J.D. and Tyler, P.A., 1991. Deep-Sea Biology: A Natural History
of Organisms at the Deep Sea Floor. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 504 pp.
Linklater, E., 1972. The Voyage of the Challenger. Murray, London.
Menzies, R.J., George, R.Y. and Rowe, G.T., 1973. Abyssal Ecology
and Environment of the World Ocean. Wiley Interscience, New
York.
Mills, E.L., 1983. Problems of deep-sea biology: an historical
perspective. In: G.T. Rowe (Editor), The Sea, Vol. 8. Wiley
Interscience, New York, pp. 1–79.
Moseley, H.N., 1880. Deep-sea dredging and life in the deep sea.
Nature, 21: 543−547, 569−572, 591−593.
Sars, M., 1864. Bemaerkninger Over det Dyriske Livs Udbredning
I Havets Dybder, Christiana. Videnskabs-Selskabs Forhandlinger
for 1864.
Sars, M., 1868. Fortsatte Bemaerkninger Over det Dyriske Livs
Udbredning I Havets Dybder, Christiana. Videnskabs-Selskabs
Forhandlinger for 1868.
Thomson, C.W., 1873. The Depths of the Sea. MacMillan, London,
527 pp.
Tyler, P.A., 1980. Deep-sea ophiuroids. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann.
Rev., 18: 125−153.
3
are natural phenomena. As yet the deep sea is exploited
only to a very limited extent, but this may change in
the future. Disposal of waste has become prominent on
the political agenda, particularly as land-based disposal
areas become saturated. The deep sea has already been
used for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste,
pharmaceuticals and dredge spoil (see Chapter 13).
Possibly more insidious is the use of the deep sea
in relation to climate change. There is evidence of
‘natural’ decadal-scale changes in the fauna of the
northeast Atlantic, possibly related to climate change.
The deep sea has also been suggested as a repository
for the excess carbon dioxide causing the so-called
‘greenhouse effect’. The vastness of the deep ocean
aids its very stability, but in localized areas this is
already being challenged. The public outcry over the
‘Brent Spar’ (see Chapter 13) demonstrates that public
awareness of this environment is increasing rapidly.
Finally, with the decline of continental-shelf fisheries,
fishing fleets are moving into deeper and deeper water,
and there is evidence that at least one deep-sea fish,
the orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), is already
overexploited.
THE DEEP SEA TODAY
What is the deep-sea? Ask virtually any deep-sea
biologist and you get a slightly different answer.
For most, it is the region below 200 m, representing
the transition from the continental shelves to the
continental slope. This is the boundary that has been
selected for this volume (see Chapter 2). Definitions
based on light penetration, depth of the mixed surface
layer, or temperature may be just as valid (see Gage
and Tyler, 1991).
The approach to this volume has been to examine
the deep sea from a number of facets, and differs
from the approach of most previous volumes in this
series. The linking theme between all the chapters is
the availability of energy for organisms in the water
column and at the deep-sea floor. Chapters 2, 3 and
4 examine environmental aspects of the deep sea –
specifically the deep-sea floor, the water column and
reducing environments. Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
examine the ecology of the major oceans and those
seas peripheral to the main ocean that have waters of
oceanic depth. Chapters 10, 11 and 12 examine some
of the specific processes that occur within the deep-sea
ecosystem; and Chapter 13 explores the anthropogenic
impact that has taken place or that may occur in the
future.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the
authors who have contributed to this volume. I may
be editor but it has been a collective enterprise by a
series of world-class scientists whose passion is for
the marine environment and the deep sea in particular.
I would also like to thank David Goodall for his
forbearance throughout its production.
REFERENCES
Forbes, E., 1844. Report on the Mollusca and Radiata of the Aegean
Sea, and their distribution, considered as bearing on geology.
Report (1843) to the 13th meeting of the British Association for
the Advancement of Science, pp. 30–193.
Gage, J.D. and Tyler, P.A., 1991. Deep-Sea Biology: A Natural History
of Organisms at the Deep Sea Floor. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 504 pp.
Linklater, E., 1972. The Voyage of the Challenger. Murray, London.
Menzies, R.J., George, R.Y. and Rowe, G.T., 1973. Abyssal Ecology
and Environment of the World Ocean. Wiley Interscience, New
York.
Mills, E.L., 1983. Problems of deep-sea biology: an historical
perspective. In: G.T. Rowe (Editor), The Sea, Vol. 8. Wiley
Interscience, New York, pp. 1–79.
Moseley, H.N., 1880. Deep-sea dredging and life in the deep sea.
Nature, 21: 543−547, 569−572, 591−593.
Sars, M., 1864. Bemaerkninger Over det Dyriske Livs Udbredning
I Havets Dybder, Christiana. Videnskabs-Selskabs Forhandlinger
for 1864.
Sars, M., 1868. Fortsatte Bemaerkninger Over det Dyriske Livs
Udbredning I Havets Dybder, Christiana. Videnskabs-Selskabs
Forhandlinger for 1868.
Thomson, C.W., 1873. The Depths of the Sea. MacMillan, London,
527 pp.
Tyler, P.A., 1980. Deep-sea ophiuroids. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann.
Rev., 18: 125−153.