Chemosynthetic seep communities triggered by seabed slumping off of northern Papua New Guinea

Abstract In July 1998 an earthquake-triggered submarine landslide, located off the north coast of Papua New Guinea, generated a devastating tsunami which killed over 2200 people. The landslide, with the architecture of a slump, traveled 800 m downslope. During this movement internal deformation resulted in the rupturing of authigenic carbonate layers at the seabed, and the expulsion of methanogenic fluids that resulted in a proliferation of chemosynthetic communities. The communities included Bathymodiolus, Calyptogena, and tube worms (Lamellibrachia sp.). Here we describe these communities, their genesis, and the significance of the event.