2026
Orejas, Covadonga; Vinha, Beatriz; Ainsworth, Gillian B.; Saldanha, Sarah; Militão, Teresa; Mohn, Christian; Hansteen, Thor H.; Ratão, Sara S.; Hoving, Henk-Jan; Amaro, Teresa; Anderson, Dominique M. J.; Araújo, Deusa; Correia, Ana Mafalda; Berrow, Simon; Dinis, Herculano A.; Freitas, Rui; Lopes, Evandro; Lopes, Vanessa; Lopez, Pedro; Macedo, Thais; March, David; Martins, Samir; Matos, Diana M.; Medrano, Fernando; Melo, Tommy; Monteiro, Gilda; Giménez, Ángela Mosquera; Paiva, Vitor H.; Queiroz, Nuno; Schütte, Florian; Stauffer, Julian B.; Taxonera, Albert; Weelden, Celine Van; González-Solís, Jacob; Huvenne, Veerle A. I.
Seamounts of Cabo Verde: A review of their ecological and economic significance, anthropogenic impacts, and conservation needs Journal Article
In: Progress in Oceanography, vol. 240, pp. 103579, 2026, ISSN: 0079-6611.
@article{OREJAS2026103579,
title = {Seamounts of Cabo Verde: A review of their ecological and economic significance, anthropogenic impacts, and conservation needs},
author = {Covadonga Orejas and Beatriz Vinha and Gillian B. Ainsworth and Sarah Saldanha and Teresa Militão and Christian Mohn and Thor H. Hansteen and Sara S. Ratão and Henk-Jan Hoving and Teresa Amaro and Dominique M. J. Anderson and Deusa Araújo and Ana Mafalda Correia and Simon Berrow and Herculano A. Dinis and Rui Freitas and Evandro Lopes and Vanessa Lopes and Pedro Lopez and Thais Macedo and David March and Samir Martins and Diana M. Matos and Fernando Medrano and Tommy Melo and Gilda Monteiro and Ángela Mosquera Giménez and Vitor H. Paiva and Nuno Queiroz and Florian Schütte and Julian B. Stauffer and Albert Taxonera and Celine Van Weelden and Jacob González-Solís and Veerle A. I. Huvenne},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079661125001673},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2025.103579},
issn = {0079-6611},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
urldate = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Progress in Oceanography},
volume = {240},
pages = {103579},
abstract = {The deep-sea areas of the Cabo Verde Archipelago remain largely unexplored, with seamounts standing out as the most prominent and abundant geomorphological features. The ecological significance of these underwater structures is well-documented in various regions of the planet, as they often serve as biodiversity hotspots, stepping stones for species connectivity and, in some cases, areas with high levels of endemism. However, the biology and ecology of the seamounts around Cabo Verde are still largely unknown. Preliminary studies of the geomorphology, oceanographic characteristics and ecology of specific features suggest that the Cabo Verde seamount network — comprising 14 known conspicuous seamounts as well as smaller elevations less than 1000 m — harbours high biological diversity. That biodiversity associated with the Cabo Verde seamounts spans a wide range of forms, from microscopic organisms to cetaceans, encompassing both pelagic and benthic communities. Commercial activities associated with seamounts, in particular fishing, are a critical aspect to consider for ecosystem management. Evaluating their current uses, future prospects, and the existing and potential threats the Cabo Verde seamounts face is essential for effective and sustainable marine spatial planning. This study reviews and synthesises the current knowledge on the Cabo Verde seamounts within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), focusing on their environmental and biological aspects, including geology, oceanography, and associated biological communities. Key topics include primary production, zooplankton communities, benthic organisms, large vertebrates such as elasmobranchs, sea turtles, seabirds, and cetaceans, as well as microbes and trophic linkages. Additionally, this review explores the socio-economic dimensions linked to seamounts, highlighting their importance to the local economy and emphasizing the need for effective marine spatial management plans. These considerations are crucial for balancing conservation efforts with sustainable use, ensuring the long-term health of these vital underwater ecosystems.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Biological oceanography, Cabo Verde, IOS4DOM, Macaronesia, Management, Marine protected areas, Protection socioeconomics, Vulnerable marine ecosystems, Webnesia},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The deep-sea areas of the Cabo Verde Archipelago remain largely unexplored, with seamounts standing out as the most prominent and abundant geomorphological features. The ecological significance of these underwater structures is well-documented in various regions of the planet, as they often serve as biodiversity hotspots, stepping stones for species connectivity and, in some cases, areas with high levels of endemism. However, the biology and ecology of the seamounts around Cabo Verde are still largely unknown. Preliminary studies of the geomorphology, oceanographic characteristics and ecology of specific features suggest that the Cabo Verde seamount network — comprising 14 known conspicuous seamounts as well as smaller elevations less than 1000 m — harbours high biological diversity. That biodiversity associated with the Cabo Verde seamounts spans a wide range of forms, from microscopic organisms to cetaceans, encompassing both pelagic and benthic communities. Commercial activities associated with seamounts, in particular fishing, are a critical aspect to consider for ecosystem management. Evaluating their current uses, future prospects, and the existing and potential threats the Cabo Verde seamounts face is essential for effective and sustainable marine spatial planning. This study reviews and synthesises the current knowledge on the Cabo Verde seamounts within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), focusing on their environmental and biological aspects, including geology, oceanography, and associated biological communities. Key topics include primary production, zooplankton communities, benthic organisms, large vertebrates such as elasmobranchs, sea turtles, seabirds, and cetaceans, as well as microbes and trophic linkages. Additionally, this review explores the socio-economic dimensions linked to seamounts, highlighting their importance to the local economy and emphasizing the need for effective marine spatial management plans. These considerations are crucial for balancing conservation efforts with sustainable use, ensuring the long-term health of these vital underwater ecosystems.
