Macro-ecology of cold seeps in the South China Sea

• DOI: 10.1016/j.geogeo.2022.100081
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19T01:29:47Z
• Authors: Xudong Wang; Hongxiang Guan; Jian-Wen Qiu; Ting Xu; Jörn Peckmann; Duofu Chen; Dong Feng
• Keywords: Cold seep; Petroleum seep; Seafloor Spreading; Marine ecosystem

After nearly 20 years of exploration, various areas the seafloor with hydrocarbon seepage have been discovered in South China Sea (SCS). Through linking subsurface and biospheres, seeps become natural laboratories to enhance our knowledge on processes migration associated hydrocarbon-based ecosystems marine environment. This review summarizes distribution macrofauna active seep SCS describes physiological characteristics three groups representative (bathymodioline mussels, pliocardiine clams, siboglinid tubeworms). In addition, a comparison is made between Northwest Pacific Ocean. Modes energy transfer microbial are elucidated by integrating trace element, stable isotope, lipid biomarker data macrofaunal soft tissues. Our aims provide an overview macro-ecology underscore aspects which desire more research efforts future.