Geological factors associated with megabenthic activity in the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract

Observations from more than 1000 seabed photographs show: a high frequency of occurrence (85-100%) of organisms and their lebensspuren in sediment-covered areas; a fairly close association (43-75%) with the nodules, with a high density of lebensspuren (4-12 traces per sq.m) in all the nodule coverage ranges; the least hospitable being the rock exposures (0-3% association). Such megabenthic activity can bring about changes in the geotechnical properties of the sediments and may influence the distribution, growth and composition as well as the occurrence of nodules at the sediment-water interface