The benthic communities of the Cap de Creus canyon

Abstract

The Cap de Creus canyon is located at the westernmost part of the Gulf of Lion continental margin, considered to be the last of a dense network of submarine canyons that characterize the area (Fig. 1). The head of the canyon is located about 5 km north-east from the Cap de Creus promontory and its end side meets with the end of the Sète Canyon at around 2150 m depth. The Cap de Creus canyon incises the shelf edge at depths of 110-130 m for more than 50 m and progressively widens to attain a maximum amplitude of 6 km, where it reaches depths ranging from 650 m to 2200 m. Both flanks of the canyon show characteristic morphological features due to differential depositional settings and hydrodynamic regimes. While the northern side displays a smooth morphology with rounded gullies and scars, showing a sedimentary depositional set of conditions, the southern flank has an erosive sedimentary nature, characterized by extensive rocky outcrops, vertical walls and terraces (Lastras et al., 2007; DeGeest et al., 2008; Puig et al., 2008). Extensive linear erosive furrows occur at depths between 150 and 1400 m which appear to be associated with the dense-shelf water cascading phenomenon and represent the preferential routes for sediment transport along the southern flank of the canyon (Canals et al., 2006; Lastras et al., 2007; Puig et al., 2008; Ulses et al., 2008)