Abstract. Seamounts are abundant and prominent features on the deep-sea floor and
intersperse with the nodule fields of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone
(CCZ). There is a particular interest in characterising the fauna inhabiting
seamounts in the CCZ because they are the only other ecosystem in the region
to provide hard substrata besides the abundant nodules on the soft-sediment
abyssal plains. It has been hypothesised that seamounts could provide refuge
for organisms during deep-sea mining actions or that they could play a role
in the (re-)colonisation of the disturbed nodule fields. This hypothesis is
tested by analysing video transects in both ecosystems, assessing megafauna
composition and abundance. Nine video transects (ROV dives) from two different license areas and one
Area of Particular Environmental Interest in the eastern CCZ were analysed.
Four of these transects were carried out as exploratory dives on four
different seamounts in order to gain first insights into megafauna
composition. The five other dives were carried out in the neighbouring
nodule fields in the same areas. Variation in community composition observed
among and along the video transects was high, with little morphospecies
overlap along intra-ecosystem transects. Despite the observation of
considerable faunal variations within each ecosystem, differences between
seamounts and nodule fields prevailed, showing significantly different
species associations characterising them, thus calling into question their use as a
possible refuge area.
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