Complex sublinear burrows in the deep sea may be constructed by amphipods

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Deep-sea ecology
• Ichthyology

Background:

• Trace fossils, such as burrows, offer insights into the behavior and ecology of organisms, especially in inaccessible environments like the deep sea.
• Previous discoveries of enigmatic serial burrows have been noted in both the Pacific and Atlantic deep-sea regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report novel sublinear rows of openings found in the abyssal plains of the North Pacific.
• To propose a plausible hypothesis for the maker of these unique deep-sea constructions.
• To contribute to the understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystem engineers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of image and specimen evidence from deep-sea explorations.
• Observation of novel sublinear rows of openings in the abyssal plains.
• Comparison with previously documented deep-sea burrows.

Main Results:

• Identification of novel sublinear rows of openings in the North Pacific abyssal plains.
• Proposal that these Bering Sea excavations are likely amphipod burrows.
• Hypothesis that maerid amphipods create these burrows through horizontal, sediment-eating excavations.

Conclusions:

• Maerid amphipods are proposed as the likely architects of the observed Pacific burrows.
• These burrows represent a significant contribution to local deep-sea biodiversity.
• The maker of these structures can be considered a deep-sea ecosystem engineer.