Inactive Sulfide Ecosystems in the Deep Sea: A Review

Dover, C. L. Van; Lee, Cindy

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00461

Cited by 56 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 164 publications

(260 reference statements)

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“…In the context of potential mining of vent systems (Van Dover et al 2018, Van Dover 2019), our results strongly advocate precautionary measures. Rather than separate entities, areas with and without vent fluid influence should be considered as a continuum of biologically and trophic interconnected assemblages.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…This energy may be used by taxa exclusively found at these sites, establishing spatial subsidies that may extent the vent’s “sphere of influence” (sensu Levin et al 2016) far from areas under direct vent fluid influence (Reid et al 2013, Bell et al 2017, Ardyna et al 2019, Le Bris et al 2019). Much effort has been invested in raising awareness on the largely under‐sampled and poorly studied inactive sulfide deposits, the main mining industry target (Van Dover 2019). Insights of this study, however, strongly suggest that historically overlooked heterogeneous adjacent vent areas as close as <100 m harbor diverse assemblages with unique species and functional entities that may be affected by environmental changes such as those produced by anthropogenic activities (Van Dover et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Alfaro-Lucas

Pradillon

Zeppilli

et al. 2020

Ecology

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Productivity and environmental stress are major drivers of multiple biodiversity facets and faunal community structure. Little is known on their interacting effects on early community assembly processes in the deep sea (>200 m), the largest environment on Earth. However, at hydrothermal vents productivity correlates, at least partially, with environmental stress. Here, we studied the colonization of rock substrata deployed along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient at four sites with and without direct influence of vent fluids at 1,700‐m depth in the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid‐Atlantic Ridge [MAR]). We examined in detail the composition of faunal communities (>20 μm) established after 2 yr and evaluated species and functional patterns. We expected the stressful hydrothermal activity to (1) limit functional diversity and (2) filter for traits clustering functionally similar species. However, our observations did not support our hypotheses. On the contrary, our results show that hydrothermal activity enhanced functional diversity. Moreover, despite high species diversity, environmental conditions at surrounding sites appear to filter for specific traits, thereby reducing functional richness. In fact, diversity in ecological functions may relax the effect of competition, allowing several species to coexist in high densities in the reduced space of the highly productive vent habitats under direct fluid emissions. We suggest that the high productivity at fluid‐influenced sites supports higher functional diversity and traits that are more energetically expensive. The presence of exclusive species and functional entities led to a high turnover between surrounding sites. As a result, some of these sites contributed more than expected to the total species and functional β diversities. The observed faunal overlap and energy links (exported productivity) suggest that rather than operating as separate entities, habitats with and without influence of hydrothermal fluids may be considered as interconnected entities. Low functional richness and environmental filtering suggest that surrounding areas, with their very heterogeneous species and functional assemblages, may be especially vulnerable to environmental changes related to natural and anthropogenic impacts, including deep‐sea mining.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Alfaro-Lucas

Pradillon

Zeppilli

et al. 2020

Ecology

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“…SMS are large deposits of polymetallicbearing sulfides on and below the seabed, formed through precipitation of metals contained in the hydrothermal fluids emanating from active vents. SMS deposits can be found associated to active vents, as well as at inactive ones, where fluid flow has stopped, and the chemosynthetic-based faunal communities have disappeared (Van Dover, 2019). At active hydrothermal vents, large biomass of highly adapted organisms is sustained by the primary production of chemoautotrophic microorganisms, both free-living and in symbiosis with the fauna (Van Dover, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

et al. 2020

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The Mohn's Treasure, described as an inactive sulfide mound, was discovered at 2,600m depth on the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge (AMOR) in 2002. In 2015, we conducted the first biological survey of Mohn's Treasure using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) photo transects and sampling. This site is covered by a thick layer of fine sediments, where hard substratum is only visible as rocky outcrops on ridges. The observed benthic community was typical of Arctic bathyal systems. A total of 46 species (identified as morphospecies) were recorded, with densities varying from 12.2 to 31.6 ind.m −2. The two most abundant phyla were Porifera and Echinodermata. The sediment is dominated by fields of the stalked crinoid Bathycrinus carpenterii, whereas areas of hard substratum were characterized by high abundances of several sponge species and associated fauna. Interest in commercial exploration and exploitation of minerals from massive sulfide deposits is rising globally, and the AMOR is being targeted for mineral exploration within Norwegian waters. Gathering baseline ecological data from these poorly known sites is thus urgent and essential if robust resource management measures are to be developed and implemented. The results of this ecological survey are discussed in relation to the designation of deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and their implication in management and conservation of areas targeted by the emerging deep-sea mining industry.

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“…Seafloor massive sulfide deposits form through hydrothermal vent activity, which generates areas of hard substrate enriched with high content of base metals (zinc, iron, lead, and copper), sulfides, and rare elements, such as gold, silver, cobalt, and platinum (Hoagland et al, 2010). Once the flow of chemically reduced hydrothermal fluid ceases, sulfide deposits are no longer hydrothermally active, thus becoming inactive (exinctSMS or eSMS) (Van Dover, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mining activities will directly affect benthic communities of the SMS deposits target areas mainly because of the removal of substrate that harbors the organisms, but also because of sediment turbidity and toxic plumes (Boschen et al, 2013). The risk assessment of eSMS mining is, however, impeded by a lack of knowledge on the biology and ecology of communities associated with eSMS, and particularly so for the soft-sediment communities (Van Dover, 2019). The few studies that sampled hydrothermal sediments or sediments in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents highlighted the patchiness of the distribution, as well as the heterogeneity in the structure and composition of meiofaunal and macrofaunal assemblages (Vanreusel et al, 1997;Levin et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meiofauna Community in Soft Sediments at TAG and Snake Pit Hydrothermal Vent Fields

et al. 2020

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The risk assessment of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) mining on meiobenthic organisms, specifically on soft-sediment meiofauna, is impeded by a lack of knowledge on the biology and ecology of these communities. In this study, we investigated sediment samples taken in proximity of active vents at Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) and Snake Pit, two hydrothermal vent fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in order to explore metazoan meiofauna, particularly nematode community, and its relation to organic carbon, total nitrogen, total sulfur, and dissolved oxygen. Organic carbon and nitrogen contents were low at both sites. High concentrations of total sulfur and low oxygen penetration were found at Snake Pit compared to TAG. Snake Pit showed approximately four times higher meiofauna and nematode density compared to TAG, as well as a dissimilar nematode community composition. We hypothesize that high sulfur concentrations at Snake Pit may support high microbial growth, which represents one of the main food source for nematodes. Moreover, TAG nematode community mostly consisted of persisters (Kstrategists), whereas Snake Pit one was composed by both persisters (Desmoscolecidae family) and colonizers (r-strategists Metalinhomoeus and Halomonhystera), whose presence can be facilitated by the bioturbation effect of polychaetes observed on the sediment surface. Therefore, food availability, geochemical settings, and biotic interactions seem to drive the local meiofauna and nematode community. Our study also draws attention to the opportunity of including meiofauna and specifically nematodes in impact studies conducted in this area in order to assess and monitor the impact of SMS mining.

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Inactive Sulfide Ecosystems in the Deep Sea: A Review

Cited by 56 publications

References 164 publications

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

High environmental stress and productivity increase functional diversity along a deep‐sea hydrothermal vent gradient

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

Meiofauna Community in Soft Sediments at TAG and Snake Pit Hydrothermal Vent Fields

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