A strong biological response to oceanic flow past Cobb Seamount

We report results of a CTD and chlorphyll $\text{a}$ survey from Cobb Seamount, a shallow seamount in the northeast Pacific. Our results show a several-fold increasein the standing crop of chlorophyll $\text{a}$ is centred over the seamount. Current meter and drifter data indicate an anticyclonic deflection of deep currents around consistent with a theoretical stratified Tylor cone. Cobb differs from other seamounts where similar phenomena have been reported (Owens and Hogg; 1980, Deep-Sea Research, 27, 1029–1045; Gouldet al., 1981, Deep-Sea Research, 28, 409–440; Genin and Boehlert, 1985, Journal of Marine Research, 43, 907–924) in that its summit penetrates well into the euphotic zone. A Taylor column existing at such shallow depths could locally enhance primary production, providing a significant source of energy for higher trophic levels on the seamount. Indirect evidence for such a scenario comes from observations of a high biomass benthic community on Cobb Seamount.