This work intended to assess, for the first time, the fish larvae community (regarding it's zooplankton ecology scenario and evaluating possible retention/dispersal patterns) above/around shallow-water hydrothermal vents located at a seamount in Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). In August 2000, ten plankton hauls were performed up to 100m deep, covering different distances to the crown. Thirty five fish larvae taxa were identified, belonging to seven Families. This community was highly dominated (89% of the sample) by mesopelagic elements of Myctophidae (Ceratoscopelus maderensis alone attending 45%) and Gonostomatidae Families, revealing a typical oceanic environment composition. Regarding mesozooplankton, no significant spatial gradient was found but an evident "biomass hole" in the crown's proximity revealed a "seamount effect".
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