Geomorphic features, main habitats and associated biota on and around the newly formed Tagoro submarine volcano, Canary Islands

Abstract

The Canary Islands showed its latest eruptive activity south of El Hierro Island in 2011, resulting in the formation of the newest underwater volcano in the area, currently known as Tagoro. The submarine volcanic eruption perturbed the water column with important physical–chemical anomalies and promoted the appearance of new geomorphic features and habitats. Six main habitat types have been defined based on substrate type, water depth, and volcanic influence, that is, whether the eruption directly altered the habitats or not. In the main volcanic edifice of Tagoro, four newly formed habitats were detected including hydrothermal vents, bacterial mats, and sulfurous-like fields, as well as hard-substrate habitats, with early colonizers such as bivalves (Neopycnodonte cochlear), serpulids (Hyalopomatus sp.), and hydrozoans (Sertularella spp.), and mixed bottoms dominated by annelids (Glycera sp., Chloeia cf. venusta, and Onuphis sp.) and decapods (Monadaeus couchii and Alpheus sp.). Two habitat types identified outside of the area affected by volcanic eruptions include soft-mixed bottoms and stable hard-bottoms with dense antipatharian aggregations (Stichopates setacea, Antipathes furcata) promoting rich associated communities.