Seamounts Generate Efficient Biological Carbon Pump Processes to Nourish the Twilight Ecosystem

The vast and rugged seafloor, densely populated with unique topographic characteristics such as seamounts, serves as hotspots for ocean deep-sea biodiversity and fisheries resources. For oligotrophic regions covering more than a quarter of the global ocean, such unique topography regions are ecological oases within the oceanic desert. However, research on these ecological hotspots remains scarce, particularly in understanding the mechanisms behind the formation of these ecological oases. We selected a shallow seamount in a typical oligotrophic region as a case study and conducted comprehensive on-site physical, chemical, and biological observations, revealing its coupled temporal and spatial response characteristics. By comparing observations from multiple 24-hour time-series stations at different locations on the seamount, we uncovered the differential response characteristics between the upstream and downstream sides induced by the seamount topography. Based on this, we elucidated the efficient organic matter production and export processes on the seamount, attempting to propose a mechanism for the formation of seamount ecological oases.