While these results indicate that the biological impacts of the cable are minor at most, three megafaunal groups exhibited cable-related changes at one or more stations. Of 17 megafaunal groups and 19 infaunal taxa, no tests evaluating the overall effect of the cable were statistically significant. Several observations of kinks and snags in the cable on the upper slope (∼240 m depth) suggest contact with trawling gear.įew changes in the abundance or distribution of benthic fauna were detectable from video observations (epifaunal) and sediment core samples (infauna). Cable strumming by nearshore wave action has incised rocky siltstone outcrops. Limited self-burial of the cable has occurred during the 8-year deployment, particularly over the continental shelf and upper slope. This study documents the appearance and condition of the cable and the underlying seafloor, and the effects of the cable on biological communities along its route. Approximately 12.1 km of the cable was observed (13% of the cable route). Forty-two hours of video footage and 138 push cores were collected over 15.1 km of seafloor. Quantitative comparisons of biological communities and seafloor features between cable and control sites were performed at nine stations. Thirteen sites along the cable route were surveyed using the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) ROVs Ventana and Tiburon equipped with cable-tracking tools. The coaxial Type SD cable was installed, unburied on the seafloor in 1995. ![]() ![]() A study was conducted on the impacts of the presence of the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC)/Pioneer Seamount cable on the benthos from nearshore waters adjacent to its origin at Pillar Point Air Force Station in Half Moon Bay, California to its terminus 95 km along its length on Pioneer Seamount.
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