Automated and quantitative characterization of multi-scale benthic habitat and associated biological communities of an unknown southeast Pacific seamount

Abstract

Seamounts are prominent deep-ocean features that strongly influence geological processes, ocean circulation, and benthic biodiversity. Despite their importance, most seamounts remain unmapped and poorly characterized, particularly in the southeast Pacific Ocean, a region recognized for high marine endemism and ecological isolation. In this study, we present a quantitative habitat characterization of a previously undocumented seamount, informally named Solito Seamount, located between the Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry and backscatter intensity data were integrated with in situ observations from two remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives (SO643 and SO645) to investigate how geomorphology and substrate distribution influence benthic community patterns. An automated and hierarchical quantitative mapping framework incorporating objective terrain analysis and multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis and clustering, was applied to delineate five distinct megahabitat types: flat, basal slope, valley, ridge slope, and ridge crest. ROV video transects traversing these megahabitats revealed five associated substrate type forming macrohabitats: bedrock, bedrock with sediment veneer, sediment-rock transition, sediment, and coral rubble. Outputs were used to investigate how environmental heterogeneity structures megafaunal assemblages of Solito Seamount. Multivariate analysis revealed a combined effect of megahabitat type and substrate type on benthic megafaunal assemblages across the depth gradient. These compositional dissimilarities were primarily driven by habitat-forming taxa. In the deeper dive (SO643), a broad suite of taxa contributed to dissimilarities, and assemblages were primarily organised by megahabitat. The ridge crest hosted a distinct reef-building scleractinian community, whereas the ridge slope hosted mixed antipatharian, gorgonian and actiniarian assemblages. In contrast, the shallower dive exhibited simpler patterns with few taxa driving dissimilarities. Substrate effects were most pronounced with coral rubble forming a distinct habitat characterised by sponges (Stelletta sp.). Pronounced biological differences between dives may also represent depth-dependent structuring resulting from differences in oxygen regimes associated with water masses, underscoring the role of oceanographic forcing. This study provides the first quantitative habitat map of this previously undocumented seamount, delivering essential baseline information for this largely unexplored region of the southeast Pacific. The integrated multi-scale geophysical and biological approach presented here offers a robust framework for advancing seamount ecosystem understanding and supporting future biodiversity assessments and conservation planning.