Abstract
The deep seafloor of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean between the Clarion and Clipperton Fracture Zones (CCZ) hosts large deposits of polymetallic nodules that are of great commercial interest as they are rich in valuable metals such as manganese, nickel, copper and cobalt. However, mining of these nodules has the potential to severely affect the benthic fauna, whose distribution and diversity are still poorly understood. The CCZ is characterized by strong gradients in sea surface productivity and hence changes in the amount of organic carbon reaching the seafloor, decreasing from mesotrophic conditions in the southeast to oligotrophic conditions in the northwest. Uncovering and understanding changes in community composition and structure along this productivity gradient are challenging but important, especially in the context of future mining impacts. Here, we summarize published data on benthic annelids (polychaetes), a major component of macrobenthic communities in the CCZ. Unlike previous studies, we attempt to explore all available data based on both morphology and genetics collected by box corer and epibenthic sledge. In this regard, we specifically aimed to (a) summarize and compare morphological and molecular data in relation to surface water nutrient conditions and (b) provide recommendations to advance the studies of polychaete biodiversity. Although initial studies on polychaetes in the CCZ were performed as far back as the 1970s, there are still large data gaps further explored in our review. For example, most of the current data are from the eastern CCZ, limiting understanding of species ranges across the region. An association between polychaete communities and the available food supply was generally observed in this study. Indeed, mesotrophic conditions supported higher abundance and species richness in polychaetes as a whole, but for certain groups of species, the patterns appear to be opposite — illustrating that relationships are likely more complex at lower taxonomic levels. A better understanding of biogeographical, ecological and evolutionary processes requires a concerted effort involving increased sampling and sharing of data and material to close existing knowledge gaps.
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© Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-00997-1
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Notes
Acronym meaning (when available): DOMES, Deep Ocean Mining Environmental Study; PRA, Preservational Reserve Area; OMS, Ocean Mineral Singapore; HOT, Hawaii Ocean Time Series; EqPac, Equatorial Pacific at 0, 2, 5 and 9° N; JPIO, Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) pilot action “Ecological aspects of deep-sea mining”; CLIMAX, named for the cruise on which this work was initiated (Hessler and Jumars 1974); KAPLAN, named after Kaplan Foundation; IOM, Interoceanmetal Joint Organization; GSR, Global Sea Mineral Resources NV; Ifremer, Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer; KODOS, Korea Deep Ocean Study; and KIOST, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the authors and institutions that have financed, collected and developed the studies summarized in this review. Magdalini Christodoulou is thanked for reading the first version of the manuscript. SK acknowledges a grant from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej — NAWA, Poland) under the ULAM program. We would like to thank the two anonymous referees for their critical reviews and useful comments, which significantly improved the quality of the final paper.
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SK acknowledges a grant from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej — NAWA, Poland) under the ULAM program.
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Bonifácio, P., Kaiser, S., Washburn, T.W. et al. Biodiversity of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone: a worm perspective. Mar. Biodivers. 54, 5 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-023-01396-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-023-01396-3