Background
This was first of two cruises to Barbados cold seeps at the accretionary wedge, which is the leading edge of the Caribbean Plate that is being underthrust by the Atlantic plate. Barbados seeps—dominated by mussels, clams, tubeworms, and sponges—were first discovered in the late 1980s by French colleagues, but have not received attention from biologists since the early 1990s. Sulfide- and methane-rich fluids flow from sediments of the accretionary wedge due to compaction (squeezing) of the sediments and a contribution of low salinity water from an uncertain source. We visited three sites: El Pilar, Orenoque A, and Orenoque B.
Cruise Synopsis
- Deployed 1 mooring at each site, equipped with 1 current meter, 2 larval/sediment traps, bone and wood bags, floats, anchor, and an acoustic release. Moorings will remain in place for 1 year. Mooring Drawing
- Sampled meroplankton (larvae) at multiple water depths using a MOCNESS (Multiple Opening-Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System), 1 tow per site.
- Mapped the seabed using a sub-bottom profiler and relocated seep sites.
Science Party
Chief Scientist: Cindy Lee Van Dover (Duke University)
PIs: Craig Young (University of Oregon), Ruoying He and Dave Eggleston (North Carolina State University)
Duke University: Sophie Plouviez (postdoc), Abigail LaBella (PhD student), Jameson Clarke (PhD student)
North Carolina State University: Brandon Puckett (PhD student), Joe Zambon (PhD student), Gayle Plaia (technician)
University of Oregon: Richard Emlet (professor), Amy Burgess (PhD student), Kristina Sawyer (MSc student), Paul Dunn, April Bird, Laurel Hiebert
USGS: Laura Brothers
NOAA: Tracey Smart (MOCNESS Tech, postdoc)