Copepoda is the most diverse and abundant taxon at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, contributing significantly to the biodiversity and thus is important in maintaining ecosystem functioning. To date we lack knowledge on meiofauna, specifically copepod community dynamics, in the entire region of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. We explore abundance and diversity of copepods associated with foundation species thriving at distinct physiochemical regimes at the active vent site ABE. Diffuse flow habitats within ABE are dominated by three foundation species: (1) the snail Alviniconcha hessleri, exposed to average vent fluid temperatures of ~24 °C, (2) the snail Ifremeria nautilei at ~12 °C, and (3) the mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum in average temperatures of ~6 °C. In each habitat, three samples were taken using a quantitative collection device (mussel-pot). Copepod abundance ranged from 1 to 30 ind. per 10 cm², with no significant differences between the three habitats. A total of 18 copepod species were identified. In the Alviniconcha habitat, the vent endemic dirivultid copepod Stygiopontius lauensis dominated the community, representing >90% of the individuals. Species richness and Shannon diversity were significantly higher in the Bathymodiolus habitat, correlated with lower temperatures, lower hydrogen sulfide concentrations and higher oxygen concentrations. This increase in diversity was driven by a community mostly comprised of habitat generalists including genera reported from shallow coastal waters, shallow vents, and peripheral vent environments. This study provides the first quantification of biodiversity and community structure of copepods along a physiochemical stress gradient at a relatively stable Southwest Pacific vent site prospective for deep-sea mining.

pe足类是深海热液喷口中种类最多，种类最多的类群，对生物多样性有重要贡献，因此对于维持生态系统的功能很重要。迄今为止，我们在东劳氏传播中心的整个地区还缺乏有关meiofauna的知识，尤其是co足类动物群落的动态。我们探索与pe足类相关的vent足类的丰富性和多样性，这些foundation足类在活跃的通风口ABE处在不同的理化机制下蓬勃发展。ABE内的漫流生境主要由三种基础物种控制：（1）蜗牛Alviniconcha hessleri，暴露于约24°C的平均排放流体温度；（2）蜗牛Ifremeria nautilei在〜12 °C，以及（3）蜗牛。贻贝Bathymodiolus septemdierum平均气温为〜6°C。在每个栖息地中，使用定量采集设备（贻贝）采集了三个样本。pe足类的丰度范围为1到30 ind。每10 cm ²，这三个栖息地之间没有显着差异。总共鉴定出18种co足类。在Alviniconcha生境中，喷发性地方性双足ult足pe足Stygiopontius lauensis占主导地位，代表了90％以上的个体。香附子的物种丰富度和香农多样性显着更高与较低的温度，较低的硫化氢浓度和较高的氧气浓度相关的栖息地。这种多样性的增加是由一个主要由栖息地通才组成的社区推动的，其中包括沿海浅水区，浅孔和外围孔环境报告的属。这项研究提供了对pe足类动物的生物多样性和群落结构的首次定量分析，其方向是在相对稳定的西南太平洋发泄点沿深海采矿的理化应力梯度。