Assessment of scientific gaps related to the effective environmental management of deep-seabed mining

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 138, P. 105006 - 105006

Published: March 2, 2022

A comprehensive understanding of the deep-sea environment and mining’s likely impacts is necessary to assess whether under what conditions deep-seabed mining operations comply with International Seabed Authority’s obligations prevent ‘serious harm’ ensure ‘effective protection marine from harmful effects’ in accordance United Nations Convention on Law Sea. synthesis peer-reviewed literature consultations stakeholders revealed that, despite an increase research, there are few categories publicly available scientific knowledge enough enable evidence-based decision-making regarding environmental management, including proceed regions where exploration contracts have been granted by Authority. Further information baselines critical for this emerging industry. Closing gaps related a monumental task that essential fulfilling overarching obligation serious harm effective protection, will require clear direction, substantial resources, robust coordination collaboration. Based gathered, we propose potential high-level road map activities could stimulate much-needed discussion steps should be taken close key before any exploitation considered. These include definition goals objectives, establishment international research agenda generate new environmental, biological, ecological information, data already exist.

Language: Английский

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Species replacement dominates megabenthos beta diversity in a remote seamount setting

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 1, 2018

Seamounts are proposed to be hotspots of deep-sea biodiversity, a pattern potentially arising from increased productivity in heterogeneous landscape leading either high species co-existence or turnover (beta diversity). However, studies on individual seamounts remain rare, hindering our understanding the underlying causes local changes beta diversity. Here, we investigated processes behind diversity using ROV video, coupled with oceanographic and quantitative terrain parameters, over depth gradient Annan Seamount, Equatorial Atlantic. By applying recently developed analyses, identified ecologically unique sites distinguished between two processes: replacement richness. The total was an index 0.92 out 1 dominated by (68%). Species affected depth-related variables, including temperature water mass addition aspect elevation seabed. In contrast, richness component were only mass. Water mass, along substrate also differences abundance. This study identified, for first time seamount megabenthos, different components drivers, which can contribute towards protecting regional biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Marked Variability in Distance‐Decay Patterns Suggests Contrasting Dispersal Ability in Abyssal Taxa

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim We assess the role of spatial distance and depth difference in shaping beta diversity patterns across abyssal seascape regions. measured decrease faunistic similarity northeast Pacific seafloor, to test whether species turnover rates differ between deep shallow‐abyssal biogeographical provinces these vary functionally or taxonomically different biotic groups. Location Abyssal NE Ocean. Time Period Present. Major Taxa Studied Benthic Invertebrates (13 Phyla). Methods examined relationship compositional (𝛽 sim ) distance, distance‐decay, benthic megafauna communities (animals > 10 mm) based on seabed imagery data (> 36,000 specimens 402 species) collected 28 locations spanning a total 4000 km. By comparing statistical parameters (intercept slope) decay curves, we investigated distance‐decay (i) above below carbonate compensation (~4400 m at N Pacific), (ii) among taxa with contrasting life‐habits dominant phyla. Results found steeper 4400 variations Turnover was higher for facultatively growing hard‐substratum patches (polymetallic nodules) than sediment‐dwelling swimming organisms. Cnidaria Porifera, respectively, depicted most least evident decays community similarity. Main Conclusions demonstrate utility combining imaging modelling capture macroecological poorly explored deep‐sea ecosystems. Our results suggest that chemical boundaries associated are very relevant niche‐sorting mechanism driving large‐scale beta‐diversity an association dispersal limitation communities. These findings have important implications biodiversity conservation plans ocean, amid need protect vast ecosystems from globally rising human threats.

Language: Английский

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A Blueprint for an Inclusive, Global Deep-Sea Ocean Decade Field Program

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: Nov. 25, 2020

The ocean plays a crucial role in the functioning of Earth System and provision vital goods services. United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 as UN Decade Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Roadmap aims to achieve six critical societal outcomes (SOs) by 2030, through pursuit four objectives (Os). It specifically recognizes scarcity biological data deep-sea biomes, challenges global scientific community conduct research advance understanding ecosystems inform sustainable management. In this paper, we map key questions identified academic SOs: (i) What is diversity life deep ocean? (ii) How are populations habitats connected? (iii) living organisms ecosystem function service provision? (iv) do species, communities, respond disturbance? We then consider design global-scale program address these reviewing drivers ecological pattern process. recommend using following criteria stratify survey design: biogeographic region, depth, horizontal distance, substrate type, high low climate hazard, fished/unfished, near/far from sources pollution, licensed/protected industry activities. both spatial temporal surveys, emphasize new collection that prioritizes southern polar latitudes, deeper (> 2000 m) depths, midwater environments. provide guidance on observational, experimental, monitoring needs different benthic pelagic ecosystems. review recent efforts standardize specimen archiving, making “sampling knowledge application” recommendations context program. also comment needs, actions, develop capacity research; inclusivity - accessing indigenous local sharing technologies part such discuss concept ‘ Challenger 150 ,’ highlighting what it could deliver Development Goal 14.

Language: Английский

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The effects of depth, distance, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on genetic differentiation of abyssal and hadal isopods (Macrostylidae)

Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 148, P. 74 - 90

Published: Oct. 13, 2017

Language: Английский

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Resilience of seamount benthic communities to trawling disturbance

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 161, P. 105086 - 105086

Published: July 25, 2020

Despite bottom trawling being the most widespread, severe disturbance affecting deep-sea environments, it remains uncertain whether recovery is possible once has ceased. Here, we review information regarding resilience of seamount benthic communities to trawling. We focus on seamounts because associated with these features are especially vulnerable as they often dominated by emergent, sessile epifauna, and can be highly concentrated. perform a meta-analysis investigate any taxa demonstrate potential for Our findings indicate that mean total abundance gradually increase after protection measures placed, although exhibit various responses, from no intermediate/high recovery, resistance, or signs early colonisation. use our results recommend directions future research improve understanding communities, thereby inform management impacts ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Implications of population connectivity studies for the design of marine protected areas in the deep sea: An example of a demosponge from the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 27(23), P. 4657 - 4679

Published: Oct. 30, 2018

Abstract The abyssal demosponge Plenaster craigi inhabits the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone ( CCZ ) in northeast Pacific, a region with abundant seafloor polymetallic nodules potential mining interest. Since P. is very encrusting sponge on nodules, understanding its genetic diversity and connectivity could provide important insights into extinction risks design of marine protected areas. Our main aim was to assess effectiveness Area Particular Environmental Interest 6 APEI ‐6) as reservoir for three adjacent exploration contract areas UK ‐1A, ‐1B OMS ‐1A). As many other sponges, COI showed extremely low variability even samples ~900 km apart. Conversely, 168 individuals craigi, genotyped 11 microsatellite markers, provided strong structure at large geographical scales not explained by isolation distance (IBD). Interestingly, we detected molecular affinities between from ‐6 despite being separated ~800 km. Although our migration analysis inferred little progeny dispersal areas, major differentiation ‐1A might be occurrence predominantly northeasterly transport predicted HYCOM hydrodynamic model. study suggests that although does serve conservation role, species it own inadequate propagule source entire eastern portion . new data suggest an located east and/or south ‐1, BGR , TOML NORI would highly valuable.

Language: Английский

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Discovery of widely available abyssal rock patches reveals overlooked habitat type and prompts rethinking deep-sea biodiversity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(27), P. 15450 - 15459

Published: June 18, 2020

Habitat heterogeneity and species diversity are often linked. On the deep seafloor, sediment variability hard-substrate availability influence geographic patterns of richness turnover. The assumption a generally homogeneous, sedimented abyssal seafloor is at odds with fact that faunal in some regions exceeds shallow-water environments. Here we show, using ground-truthed analysis multibeam sonar data, may be much rockier than previously assumed. A combination bathymetry ruggedness, backscatter from trans-Atlantic corridor along Vema Fracture Zone, covering crustal ages 0 to 100 Ma, show rock exposures occurring all ages. Extrapolating whole Atlantic, over 260,000 km2 habitats potentially occur Atlantic fracture zones alone, significantly increasing our knowledge about habitat heterogeneity. This implies sampling campaigns need considerably more sophisticated present capture full deep-sea biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Novel diversity in mitochondrial genomes of deep-sea Pennatulacea (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia)

Mitochondrial DNA Part A, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 30(6), P. 764 - 777

Published: July 18, 2019

We present the first documented complete mitogenomes of deep-sea Pennatulacea, representing nine genera and eight families. These include one species each Funiculina, Halipteris, Protoptilum Distichoptilum, four Umbellula Pennatula, three Kophobelemnon two Anthoptilum, as well epi- mesobenthic genus Virgularia. Seventeen circular genomes ranged from 18,513 bp (Halipteris cf. finmarchica) to 19,171 (Distichoptilum gracile) contained all genes standard octocoral mitochondrial (14 protein-coding genes, ribosomal RNA transfer RNA). found at least different gene orders in Pennatulacea: ancestral order, order bamboo corals (Family Isididae), a novel order. The mitogenome has bipartite genome (∼13 kbp ∼5 kbp), with good evidence that both parts are circular.

Language: Английский

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Role of deep-sea equipment in promoting the forefront of studies on life in extreme environments

iScience, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(11), P. 103299 - 103299

Published: Oct. 19, 2021

The deep-sea environment creates the largest ecosystem in world with biological community and extensive undiscovered biodiversity. Nevertheless, these ecosystems are far from well known. Deep-sea equipment is an indispensable approach to research life extreme environments because of difficulty obtaining access unique habitats. This work reviewed historical development state-of-the-art suitable for researching ecosystems, clarify role this as a promoter progress environmental studies. Linkages developed discovered species analyzed study. In addition, Equipment associated hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls, seamounts, oceanic trenches introduced detail. To thrust key points future promotion studies, prospects challenges related observing equipment, samplers, laboratory simulation systems, submersibles proposed. Furthermore, blueprint integration situ observations, sampling, controllable culture, manned experiments underwater environments, simulations depicted

Language: Английский

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