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

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Fig. A4.4.1-2. Location of main study sites on <strong>the</strong> Porcupine Bank. Topography courtesy of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Geology Survey of Ireland.<br />

<strong>The</strong> studies on <strong>the</strong> Porcupine Bank were undertaken to address <strong>the</strong> following research<br />

questions.<br />

To what extent are carbonate mound growth processes influenced by<br />

hydrodynamic processes?<br />

What is <strong>the</strong> extent of biotic heterogeneity between carbonate mounds?<br />

Do we find evidence of deep water trawling activity damaging <strong>the</strong> coral<br />

ecosystem?<br />

Are <strong>the</strong> ridges on which carbonate mounds are located a focus for <strong>the</strong>rmogenic<br />

hydrocarbon seepage.<br />

This last objective drew a negative conclusion. Despite 88 hours of dedicated dive<br />

time on carbonate mounds, no gas bubbles, authigenic carbonate crusts, bacterial<br />

mats, chemosyn<strong>the</strong>tic fauna (e.g. tube worms, pogonophorans or distinct molluscs<br />

species), pockmarks or any o<strong>the</strong>r evidence of cold seepage were found (see Dando &<br />

Hovland, 1992; Sibuet & Olu, 1998).<br />

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