The role of habitat mosaics on biological communities at hydrothermal vents and their periphery

Abstract Hydrothermal vent fields harbour a heterogeneous seascape owing to complex topography and vent fluid emissions, including in peripheral areas beyond active venting. At the Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field, a remotely operated vehicle was used to acquire two hectares of seabed imagery to evaluate the role of environmental conditions on the structure and distribution of benthic communities. Our analyses revealed that large and mature edifices are potential keystone structures supporting hotspots of vent specialists (e.g., Bathymodiolus azoricus ) and associated fauna (e.g., Zoanthidae). Higher densities of mobile bathyal shrimps were found in slabs adjacent to active venting areas. Communities occupying areas with lower hydrothermal exposure displayed significantly higher diversity than areas located closer (≤ 40 m) to vent emissions. Between 40 and 120 m from active sites, community diversity was greatest on hard substrata dominated by sessile organisms—such as octocorals, Cladorhizid and Hexactinellid sponges—in greater densities when these substrates were composed of basalt with complex topography. While the gradient in hydrothermal exposure creates a spatial zonation of benthic communities, abundance and diversity patterns remain locally conditioned by seabed topography and substratum hardness. This interplay fosters a patchwork of faunal communities at the decametre scale. These results underscore the complexity of designing surveys encompassing the diversity of habitat conditions within the deep hydrothermal seascape. Although historically overlooked, the diversity of distinct benthic communities beyond venting zones emphasises the ecological significance and vulnerability of areas that could be targeted by mining.