Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

It seems that all the mounds along the transect from "Challenger mound" to "Poseidon
mound" are covered with dead coral and coral rubble, which means that this mound
ridge can be interpreted as a dead ridge. Probably the present environmental
conditions aren’t that favourable for the growth of deep-water corals in this
easternmost part of the "Belgica mounds" area. Only "Galway mound" and the small
mound in between "Galway mound" and "Poseidon mound" were covered with a high
amount of living coral. During the Caracole-cruise in 2001, ROV video imagery
showed that "Thérèse mound" is also covered with a high amount of live coral. It
seems that the present hydrodynamic conditions stimulate deep-water coral growth on
these more westerly located mounds.
A whole range of local current effects and local current intensifications can be
recognized between the mounds, expressed by the occurrence of coarser material.
The finer fractions are winnowed away. The interaction between currents and local
irregularities are responsible for the typical deposition of patches of very well sorted
sands behind these obstacles and for the observed scouring marks.
The overall image of the sedimentary pattern and bedform occurrence fits very well
with the general idea of a northerly directed slope current. However, the orientation of
the sand waves and ripples on the flank of some mounds shows that downslope
orientated transport plays also an important role in the interaction between mounds
and alongslope sediment transport.
A. 4.3.3 Benthic Faunal Sampling in the Belgica mound province
Roberts, M.
The sampling objectives as outlined at the start of cruise ARK XIX/3a are given below.
Copies of box core photographs listed by "Polarstern" station number were submitted
to the Public file server at the end of the cruise.
Objective
To describe benthic infaunal and epifaunal communities both on and off carbonate
mounds supporting cold-water corals. To collect live coral for laboratory study and
calcareous macrofauna with potential for use as temperature proxies.
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