Fracture zones are areas of poorly known abyssal landscapes
and benthic faunal communities. During the R/V Meteor
M162 cruise several imagery surveys were performed using a
TV-CTD guided camera system along four main areas of the
Gloria fault system, between the Terceira ridge and the
Madeira Tore Rise. Based on these records, we were able to
characterize - for the first time - the megafaunal composition,
their abundance and diversity along the sub-basin of the
Gloria fault at depths between 3500 and 4500m. Quantitative
annotations of the observed fauna, as well as evidence of
animal traces on the seafloor were explored in relation to
topography, substrate type, and geochemical data acquired
during surveys. Preliminary observations revealed a total of
121 morphospecies, of which Holothuroidea is the most
diverse group, with 12 morphospecies. Deepest transects
carried out along the main trace of Gloria Fault system
showed the highest similarity among dives, predominantly
characterised by soft sediment areas with Elpidiidae
holothurians frequently observed. In contrast, the survey
carried out at the Terceira ridge showed more diverse
communities, which is likely due to a larger variability in
substrate and topography. Specifically, soft-sediment
sections showed a higher proportion of holothurians,
ophiuroids and acorn worms, while unique Anthozoan and
Porifera morphospecies were observed in areas with
presence of hard substrates. The findings of this study provide
unique knowledge of abyssal fauna associated with the Gloria
Fault System, including areas inside of national jurisdiction
and of relevance for management and conservation actions