Natural spatial variability of depositional conditions, biogeochemical processes and element fluxes in sediments of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean

Volz, Jessica; Mogollón, José M; Geibert, Walter; Arbizu, Pedro Martínez; Koschinsky, Andrea; Kasten, Sabine

doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2018.08.006

Cited by 98 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…To conclude, our study supports the assumptions behind the creation of nine large APEIs, namely that gradients of sea surface primary productivity determine large-scale patterns and that nodule densities determine local-scale patterns in community structure, species composition and functioning (Wedding et al, 2013). However, among exploration contract areas, there is a shift in community composition and trophic structure between BGR, IOM, and GSR on the one hand and Ifremer on the other hand, suggesting that these two groups do not belong to the same subregion, as hypothesized by Wedding et al (2013). Environmental conditions at the APEI no.…”

Section: Major Forces Driving Local-and Regional-scale Patterns In Cosupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Considering the large environmental footprint of nodule mining disturbances on the seafloor, as well as the diversity and vulnerability of the abyssal fauna, the need for marine spatial planning to preserve species, habitats and functions in the CCFZ has emerged, concomitant to a renewed interest for deep-sea mineral resources (Wedding et al, 2013). Due to the paucity of biological data in the CCFZ, the recommendations issued by Wedding et al (2013) for the design of a network of protected areas were mainly based on nitrogen flux at 100 m depth (a proxy for trophic inputs to the seafloor), modeled nodule densities, the distribution of large seamounts and the dispersal distances of shallow water taxa. One of the main assumptions underlying the management plan is that longitudinal and latitudinal productivity-driven gradients shape the community structure and species distribution of abyssal communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the main assumptions underlying the management plan is that longitudinal and latitudinal productivity-driven gradients shape the community structure and species distribution of abyssal communities. As a result, Wedding et al (2013) divided the spatial domain of the CCFZ into 3 × 3 subregions and suggested creating one large no-mining area in each subregion. The size of the no-mining areas was defined with the aim of maintaining viable population sizes for species potentially restricted to a subregion, taking into account the inferred dispersal distances of species and of the plumes created by nodule mining (Wedding et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, Wedding et al (2013) divided the spatial domain of the CCFZ into 3 × 3 subregions and suggested creating one large no-mining area in each subregion. The size of the no-mining areas was defined with the aim of maintaining viable population sizes for species potentially restricted to a subregion, taking into account the inferred dispersal distances of species and of the plumes created by nodule mining (Wedding et al, 2013). Those principles were implemented in the regional management plan for the CCFZ, which re-sulted in the designation of nine APEIs (Lodge et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, four exploration contract areas and one APEI (separated by 240 to 1440 km) were sampled along a sea surface primary productivity gradient from southeast to northwest across the eastern portion of the CCFZ nodule province (Martínez Arbizu and Haeckel, 2015). The four exploration contract areas were located within the eastern central subregion defined by Wedding et al (2013), where an APEI did not fit. One of the nearest APEIs was thus sampled instead.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpha and beta diversity patterns of polychaete assemblages across the nodule province of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (equatorial Pacific)

2020

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Abstract. In the abyssal equatorial Pacific Ocean, most of the seafloor of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), a 6 million km2 polymetallic nodule province, has been preempted for future mining. In light of the large environmental footprint that mining would leave and given the diversity and the vulnerability of the abyssal fauna, the International Seabed Authority has implemented a regional management plan that includes the creation of nine Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs) located at the periphery of the CCFZ. The scientific principles for the design of the APEIs were based on the best – albeit very limited – knowledge of the area. The fauna and habitats in the APEIs are unknown, as are species' ranges and the extent of biodiversity across the CCFZ. As part of the Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) pilot action “Ecological aspects of deep-sea mining”, the SO239 cruise provided data to improve species inventories, determine species ranges, identify the drivers of beta diversity patterns and assess the representativeness of an APEI. Four exploration contract areas and an APEI (APEI no. 3) were sampled along a gradient of sea surface primary productivity that spanned a distance of 1440 km in the eastern CCFZ. Between three and eight quantitative box cores (0.25 m2; 0–10 cm) were sampled in each study area, resulting in a large collection of polychaetes that were morphologically and molecularly (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S genes) analyzed. A total of 275 polychaete morphospecies were identified. Only one morphospecies was shared among all five study areas and 49 % were singletons. The patterns in community structure and composition were mainly attributed to variations in organic carbon fluxes to the seafloor at the regional scale and nodule density at the local scale, thus supporting the main assumptions underlying the design of the APEIs. However, the APEI no. 3, which is located in an oligotrophic province and separated from the CCFZ by the Clarion Fracture Zone, showed the lowest densities, lowest diversity, and a very low and distant independent similarity in community composition compared to the contract areas, thus questioning the representativeness and the appropriateness of APEI no. 3 to meet its purpose of diversity preservation. Among the four exploration contracts, which belong to a mesotrophic province, the distance decay of similarity provided a species turnover of 0.04 species km−1, an average species range of 25 km and an extrapolated richness of up to 240 000 polychaete species in the CCFZ. By contrast, nonparametric estimators of diversity predict a regional richness of up to 498 species. Both estimates are biased by the high frequency of singletons in the dataset, which likely result from under-sampling and merely reflect our level of uncertainty. The assessment of potential risks and scales of biodiversity loss due to nodule mining thus requires an appropriate inventory of species richness in the CCFZ.

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Section: Major Forces Driving Local-and Regional-scale Patterns In Cosupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpha and beta diversity patterns of polychaete assemblages across the nodule province of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (equatorial Pacific)

2020

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Restoration experiments in polymetallic nodule areas

Gollner

Haeckel

Janßen

et al. 2021

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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This article is part of the special series entitled: "Implications of Deep-sea Mining on Marine Ecosystems." The series comprises the current state of the science regarding deep-sea ocean ecosystems and the likely ecological footprints, risks, and consequences of deep-sea mining. The focus is on impact assessment, policy solutions, and practices to aid in the implementation of industry guidance prepared by the International Seabed Authority and other authorities, new monitoring and assessment methods, best management practices, and emerging scientific research related to deep-sea ecosystems.

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Ethical opportunities in deep‐sea collection of polymetallic nodules from the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone

Katona

Paulikas

Stone

2021

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Infrastructure supporting the transition of human societies from fossil fuels to renewable energy will require hundreds of millions of tons of metals. Polymetallic nodules on the abyssal seabed of the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone (CCZ), eastern North Pacific Ocean, could provide them. We focus on ethical considerations and opportunities available to the novel CCZ nodule‐collection industry, integrating robust science with strong pillars of social and environmental responsibility. Ethical considerations include harm to sea life and recovery time, but also the value of human life, indigenous rights, rights of nature, animal rights, intrinsic values, and intangible ecosystem services. A “planetary perspective” considers the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, extends beyond mineral extraction to a life‐cycle view of impacts, and includes local, national, and global impacts and stakeholders. Stakeholders include direct nodule‐collection actors, ocean conservationists, companies, communities, interest groups, nations, and citizens globally, plus counterfactual stakeholders involved with or affected by intensification of terrestrial mining if ocean metals are not used. Nodule collection would harm species and portions of ecosystems, but could have lower life‐cycle impacts than terrestrial mining expansion, especially if nodule‐metal producers explicitly design for it and stakeholders hold them accountable. Participants across the value chain can elevate the role of ethics in strategic objective setting, engineering design optimization, commitments to stakeholders, democratization of governance, and fostering of circular economies. The International Seabed Authority is called to establish equitable and transparent distribution of royalties and gains, and continue engaging scientists, economists, and experts from all spheres in optimizing deep‐sea mineral extraction for humans and nature. Nodule collection presents a unique opportunity for an ambitious reset of ecological norms in a nascent industry. Embracing ethical opportunities can set an example for industrial‐scale activities on land and sea, accelerate environmental gains through environmental competition with land ores, and hasten civilization's progress toward a sustainable future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:634–654. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

show abstract

Natural spatial variability of depositional conditions, biogeochemical processes and element fluxes in sediments of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean

Cited by 98 publications

References 78 publications

Alpha and beta diversity patterns of polychaete assemblages across the nodule province of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (equatorial Pacific)

Alpha and beta diversity patterns of polychaete assemblages across the nodule province of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (equatorial Pacific)

Restoration experiments in polymetallic nodule areas

Ethical opportunities in deep‐sea collection of polymetallic nodules from the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone

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