The large-scale environmental impact experiment DISCOL—reflection and foresight

Thiel, Hjalmar; Schriever, Gerd; Ahnert, Ahmed; Bluhm, Hartmut; Borowski, Christian; Vopel, Kay

doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(01)00071-6

Cited by 67 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Even within the small scale impact of trawl tracks studied here, epifauna did not show significant recovery after decades, indicating that recovery in the deep sea is a very slow process in general. Finally, investigating the present biodiversity and understanding the reproductive biology and distribution of the most prominent taxa in the whole region is an ultimate condition for a sound environmental management plan2223. Thanks to the habitat heterogeneity they generate, polymetallic nodules sustain some of the most diverse benthic communities on the abyssal plain24.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threatened by mining, polymetallic nodules are required to preserve abyssal epifauna

Vanreusel

Hilario

Ribeiro

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

260

356

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polymetallic nodule mining at abyssal depths in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (Eastern Central Pacific) will impact one of the most remote and least known environments on Earth. Since vast areas are being targeted by concession holders for future mining, large-scale effects of these activities are expected. Hence, insight into the fauna associated with nodules is crucial to support effective environmental management. In this study video surveys were used to compare the epifauna from sites with contrasting nodule coverage in four license areas. Results showed that epifaunal densities are more than two times higher at dense nodule coverage (>25 versus ≤10 individuals per 100 m2), and that taxa such as alcyonacean and antipatharian corals are virtually absent from nodule-free areas. Furthermore, surveys conducted along tracks from trawling or experimental mining simulations up to 37 years old, suggest that the removal of epifauna is almost complete and that its full recovery is slow. By highlighting the importance of nodules for the epifaunal biodiversity of this abyssal area, we urge for cautious consideration of the criteria for determining future preservation zones.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threatened by mining, polymetallic nodules are required to preserve abyssal epifauna

Vanreusel

Hilario

Ribeiro

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

260

356

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…6 million km 2 ; Lodge et al, 2014), with mining operations potentially to be initiated by 2025 (Glover & Smith, 2003;Smith & Demopoulos, 2003;Smith, Levin, Koslow, & Tyler, 2008). Small-scale impact experiments conducted so far in the CCZ suggest that the local environmental impacts of nodule mining will be substantial (Borowski & Thiel, 1998;Jones et al, 2017;Miljutin, Miljutina, Arbizu, & Galéron, 2011;Smith, Paterson et al, 2008;Thiel et al, 2001) and will directly affect abyssal epifauna (Amon et al, 2016;Vanreusel et al, 2016). Importantly, mining may not only impact areas where nodules are removed, but will also disturb adjacent areas through re-deposition from sediment plumes, potentially impacting larger seafloor areas than those directly affected by nodule removal (Oebius, Becker, Rolinski, & Jankowski, 2001;Smith, Levin et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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

show abstract

“…Mining for polymetallic nodules will inevitably impact the fauna in the area, not only by removing the nodules themselves, but also by the resuspension and redeposition of sediments in an otherwise very stable habitat (Jumars, 1981;Ingole et al, 2001;Thiel et al, 2001). Therefore, as recommended by the ISA, prior to (test) mining it is important to determine the environmental baseline in the exploration area, to gain insight into natural processes such as dispersion and settling of particles and benthic faunal succession, and to gather other data that may make it possible to acquire the capability necessary to make accurate environmental impact predictions (ISA-LTC, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Community Structure of Deep-Sea Macrofauna Associated with Polymetallic Nodules in the Eastern Part of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The large-scale environmental impact experiment DISCOL—reflection and foresight

Cited by 67 publications

References 19 publications

Threatened by mining, polymetallic nodules are required to preserve abyssal epifauna

Threatened by mining, polymetallic nodules are required to preserve abyssal epifauna

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

The Community Structure of Deep-Sea Macrofauna Associated with Polymetallic Nodules in the Eastern Part of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About