Deep Sea Ecology Quiz
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Which of the following best describes the typical temperature conditions at abyssal plains?

  • Temperatures that vary greatly depending on the time of year.
  • Low and stable temperatures. (correct)
  • Fluctuating temperatures with extreme highs and lows.
  • High and unstable temperatures.

    • What is the primary source of food for organisms in abyssal plains?

  • Chemosynthesis around hydrothermal vents.
  • Venting of sulfide-rich fluids.
  • Food derived from surface waters. (correct)
  • High in situ primary production.

    • What is a significant difference between the faunal biomass and diversity at abyssal plains compared to hot vents?

  • Both have high faunal biomass and high diversity.
  • Abyssal plains have very high faunal biomass and low diversity, while hot vents have low biomass and high diversity.
  • Both have low faunal biomass but differing diversities, based on location.
  • Abyssal plains have low faunal biomass and high diversity, while hot vents have very high biomass and low diversity. (correct)

    • According to the provided content, which of the following is NOT a primary deep-sea mineral resource?

    <p>Manganese carbonates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical accretion rate of polymetallic nodules found on the abyssal plains?

    <p>Millimeters per million years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the ocean's volume lies below 200 meters?

    <p>92%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated mean depth of the ocean?

    <p>3800 meters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of the deep sea?

    <p>Abundant light</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a deep-sea ecosystem?

    <p>Abyssal plains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical sedimentation rate for red clay in the abyssal plains?

    <p>A few millimeters per 1000 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these contribute to the biological pump and deposition of organic material onto the sea floor?

    <p>Zooplankton fecal pellets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Approximately how many marine species have been formally described?

    <p>1,200</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the content, what is true regarding the exploration of the ocean?

    <p>Only about 5% of the ocean has been systematically explored</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following organisms is known to host episymbiotic bacteria?

    <p>Pompeii worm (<em>Alvinella pompeijana</em>)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between how tubeworms and mussels obtain their symbiotic bacteria?

    <p>Both acquire bacteria through horizontal transmission</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is NOT classified as a deposit feeder within hydrothermal vent ecosystems?

    <p>Barnacles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is unique to the Tubeworm Riftia pachyptila?

    <p>It is the fastest-growing animal on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might a 'phantom stepping stone' be necessary for hydrothermal vent species?

    <p>To bridge large geographic gaps in vent fields, facilitating dispersal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is more accurate concerning the biodiversity of hydrothermal vent macrofauna?

    <p>Vent macrofauna is highly abundant but species poor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant finding from the July 2023 discovery in the 'underworld of hydrothermal vents'?

    <p>The finding that known vent species also exist within cave systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these locations is NOT mentioned as a specific hydrothermal vent field?

    <p>Mariana Trench</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a primary environmental impact of deep-sea mining, specifically related to the removal of mineral resources?

    <p>Habitat loss, fragmentation, and modification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential consequence of sediment plumes generated during deep-sea mining?

    <p>Burial of organisms and clogging of filter-feeding apparatus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of environmental impact is caused by the sound and light produced during deep-sea mining operations?

    <p>Sensory disruption to deep-sea organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated time scale for the geological recovery of mineral resources after deep-sea mining?

    <p>Geological timescales</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated time scale for community recovery at mined areas in the deep sea?

    <p>From a few years to millions of years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is being investigated by JPIO-MiningImpact2 during the test mining by DEME in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone?

    <p>Plume dispersal and community recovery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which material is specifically mentioned as a resource that is extracted during deep-sea mining?

    <p>Nodules, crusts and sulfides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what area are the test mining activities conducted by DEME, as described in the provided text?

    <p>The Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary finding regarding the microbial loop after 26 years of test-mining track impact?

    <p>Microbial loop was impaired.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided information, what was the effect on nematode populations after 26 years of test-mining track impact?

    <p>Nematode abundance and diversity were reduced.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the mitigation hierarchy in the context of managing biodiversity risk?

    <p>To manage and reduce environmental impacts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which action is described as using 'spatial or temporal actions' to avoid creating impacts?

    <p>Avoidance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'Biodiversity Off-set' aim to achieve after mitigation measures have been taken?

    <p>To compensate for remaining adverse impacts, aiming for no net loss and preferably a net gain of biodiversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated timescale for the loss of nodule-obligate fauna after the removal of nodules?

    <p>A few million years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do nodules and their epifauna play in the abyssal ecosystem?

    <p>They are vital for ecosystem functions, such as food webs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of rehabilitation and/or restoration measures in the context of impact mitigation?

    <p>To repair ecosystem processes, productivity, services and re-establish the pre-existing biotic integrity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main roles of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI)?

    <p>To integrate science, technology, policy, law, and economics for ecosystem management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Minerals Working Group of DOSI contribute to discussions about deep-seabed mining?

    <p>By providing expert opinions through various forms of communications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a suggested activity by DOSI concerning environmental data?

    <p>Establishing Baseline Environmental Data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of community resilience is emphasized in the context of deep-sea ecosystems?

    <p>Resilience of vent communities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of expertise does the Minerals Working Group encompass?

    <p>A broad spectrum including conservation and legal fields</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the expected outcomes of integrating different sectors in deep-sea management?

    <p>Enhanced governance of ocean resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is spatial management important in the context of deep-sea ecosystems?

    <p>It helps in understanding the interconnectedness of ecosystem components</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of meetings does DOSI participate in to address deep-seabed mining?

    <p>International workshops focused on regional environmental management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Marine Sciences III: Oceans of the Future

    • The presentation covers marine sciences, focusing on the future of the oceans.
    • Organizations like NIOZ, NIOO, and Naturalis Biodiversity Center are mentioned.
    • Images of futuristic underwater structures and maps are included.
    • Different aspects of the deep sea are detailed, including biology and mining.
    • A satellite observed a massive, milky sea, a phenomenon documented since the 17th century.
    • A new species of sea snail, Rapana venosa, has been found in Dutch coastal waters.
    • The presentation discusses the deep sea's biology and the potential impact of deep-seabed mining.

    News of the Day

    • A satellite detected a milky-white area in the sea, noted in ship's logs since the 17th century.
    • The phenomenon was observed by a weather satellite.
    • A new species of sea snail, Rapana venosa, was found in Dutch coastal waters.
    • Its origin is traced to the Yellow Sea and the Japan Sea but has since been discovered in the Adriatic Sea and off the coast of Brittany.

    Deep-sea biology and deep-seabed mining

    • Deep-sea biology and deep-seabed mining are discussed together.

    The deep sea

    • Ninety-two percent of the ocean floor is below 200 meters.
    • Half of the ocean is below 3000m, with an average depth of 3800m.
    • The abyssal plain, seamounts, continental margins, whale falls, and mid-ocean ridges are diverse deep-sea environments.
    • The deep sea includes various ecosystems.
    • The deep sea has distinctive characteristics such as low light, high pressure, low temperature (2 degrees Celsius), stable temperatures, and weak currents.

    The Abyssal Plains

    • Sedimentation rates in abyssal plains are generally very slow.
    • Abyssal plains habitats are sensitive to disturbances.
    • Trawling of polymetallic nodules is a potential future disruption (nodule growth rate is 1-4 mm per one million years).

    The Ocean

    • The ocean is divided into zones based on depth and light penetration.
    • Key factors, such as biomass, light, and temperature, are varied along the depth gradient.

    The Deep Sea - Characteristics

    • The deep sea has limited light.
    • High pressure exists in the deep sea.
    • Deep-sea temperatures are consistently low, at 2 degrees Celsius.
    • The temperature remains stable in the deep sea.
    • Weak currents are found in the deep sea.
    • Food availability is low in the deep sea.

    The Deep Sea - More Than One Ecosystem

    • The deep sea is not a single ecosystem; it comprises different environments like abyssal plains, seamounts, continental margins, and mid-ocean ridges.
    • Specific features of these environments, like canyons, cold seeps, whale falls, and hydrothermal vents, characterize their ecosystems.

    The Abyssal Plains & Polymetallic Nodules

    • The abyssal plain is a primary environment for the presence of polymetallic nodules.
    • Polymetallic nodules form slowly, at millimeter per million years and are abundant in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, but contain potentially higher amounts of manganese, nickel, and cobalt than land-based reserves.

    The Abyssal Plains - A Stable Ecosystem

    • Sedimentation rates in the deep sea are typically measured in millimeters per thousand years; they're significantly slower than sedimentation near river mouths.
    • Deep-ocean ecosystems are highly sensitive to disturbances due to their slow rates of recovery.
    • Human activities like trawling of polymetallic nodules (at rates of 1-4 mm per one million years) pose a considerable risk to these fragile ecosystems.

    Biological Pump - Deposition on the Sea Floor

    • Zooplankton fecal pellets along with marine snow, and phytodetritus make up a crucial part of the ocean's biological pump.
    • These materials sink to the seafloor, carrying organic carbon and nutrients down through the water column.

    The Deep Sea - High Diversity

    • The Census of Marine Life (2000-2010) collected over 30 million observations, estimated about 250,000 known marine species.
    • An additional 6,000 new species were discovered and documented during this period, and more new species have since been described.
    • Knowledge of deep-sea species is inversely related to the depth.

    Census of Diversity of Abyssal Marine Life (CeDAMar)

    • CeDAMar focuses on the diversity of species in abyssal marine life and the factors influencing it, including their distribution and habitat size.
    • Key areas of research and importance, and questions about numbers are still being investigated.

    Biodiversity and Connectivity

    • The discussion focuses on the biodiversity and connections in the deep sea.
    • Images of diverse deep-sea organisms are part of this section.

    Biodiversity — What and How Many Species Do We Find?

    • There are a significant number of unknown megafauna morpho-species.
    • In an area of the UK, there are 170 unique species in the megafauna morphospecies group of the deep sea.

    Species Ranges — Where Do We Find Which Species?

    • Species distribution and ranges are examined to determine the extent of their presence.
    • A smaller area (300,000 km²) may contain fewer records (4) than a larger area (300,000 km², 182,939) for a particular species.

    Species Ranges — Where Do We Find Which Species?

    • Many species display a clear preference for a specific geographic area.
    • Only 49% of a specific group of organisms can be found in all five specific locations studied.
    • Polychaetes are a group of marine annelids that have been explored in various studies of animal distribution.

    How Are Populations Connected?

    • The connectivity between populations is a factor studied in relation to species ranges.
    • The relationship between population proximity and other environmental factors, such as POC levels, helps to explain population interactions and influences.

    Abyssal Plains

    • Abyssal plains are characterized by a lack of light and stable low temperatures.
    • Food sources for the abyssal plains originate from surface waters.
    • These plains exhibit low productivity, low faunal biomass, and high diversity.

    The Deep Sea — Energy Input

    • The deep sea has multiple sources of energy input, including hydrothermal vents, chemosynthetic ecosystems, and detritus-based ecosystems.
    • The energy flow in the deep sea is primarily driven by hydrothermal vent activity and detritus-based ecosystems.

    Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents

    • Energy-rich, reduced, and hot fluids emanate from the deep sea floor.
    • High-temperature fluids and chemical composition vary between locations.

    Video of a Black Smoker from Lau Basin (from Fisher)

    • This section includes a video of black smokers.
    • The variability of vent fluids (in terms of temperature and chemical composition) is highlighted.

    Global distribution of hydrothermal vent fields

    • Map showing known hydrothermal vents around the world.
    • Shows active (red) and inferred (yellow) vent fields.

    Communities at hydrothermal vents

    • First-level primary producers in hydrothermal vent ecosystems are primarily autotrophic bacteria, with symbiotic relationships with other organisms.
    • The second level includes deposit feeders and suspension feeders.
    • The tertiary level has secondary consumers involving predators and scavengers.

    The unique endemic fauna at active hydrothermal vents is dependent on chemosynthesis.

    • Shrimp (Rimicaris exoculata) and Mussels (Bathymodiolus spp.) are prominent examples of communities that depend on chemosynthesis.

    Bacteria in symbiosis with macrofauna

    • The hot environment of hydrothermal vents supports symbiotic relationships between organisms and bacteria.
    • Examples of organisms include Pompeii worm (Alvinella pompeijana) and Mussel (Bathymodiolus spp.).

    How is an animal taking up symbionts?

    • Organisms acquire symbionts in different ways, including vertical transmission (from parent to offspring) and horizontal transmission (from environment).

    Associated macrofauna

    • The associated fauna includes deposit feeders (limpets and polychaetes), suspension feeders (barnacles and anemones), and predators and scavengers (crabs and fish).

    A community at low flow Lau Basin vents

    • A snapshot view of the vent community shows the abundance of different species living in the area.
    • Movie crabs and predation are noted as significant parts of the ecosystem.

    Every vent field is unique at MAR

    • Images showing various unique vent fields illustrate variation across the Atlantic mid-ocean ridge.

    Biogeographic Provinces: Macrofauna - Foundation Species

    • The distribution of deep-sea organisms across different geographic regions is explored to understand and classify them.
    • Key factors in the evolution of these populations, including the specific physical characteristics of the regions, are discussed.

    Dispersal in a patch environment

    • The dispersal of deep-sea organisms across different geographic areas is considered to understand their connection.
    • Various factors, including larval transport distances and local currents, are influencing their movement.

    Connectivity in a patchy environment

    • The distance needed for larvae connection, accounting for currents and larval lifespan, is investigated.
    • The distance separating hydrothermal vent fields is analyzed.

    Dispersal in a patchy environment: additional pathways?

    • Additional channels of dispersion for deep-sea organisms, such as bottom currents, are identified and illustrated through a diagram.

    July 2023: the discovery of the underworld of hydrothermal vents!

    • The discovery of microbes, tubeworms, bristle worms, and snails in a cave system within hydrothermal vent fields underscores the existence of life in the subsurface.

    Proposed connectivity model between seafloor surface and crustal subseafloor hydrothermal vents

    • A diagram illustrating the potential connectivity between seafloor surfaces and hydrothermal vents within the subsurface is examined.

    Whole series of videos from expedition open accessible

    • Videos are available to the public and provide access to the hydrothermal vent environments.
    • The videos are categorized into different segments, including details of travel into the vents and highlights of ROV footage.

    Active vent field: with active and inactive mounds/chimneys

    • Images of active and inactive hydrothermal vent fields are shown, exhibiting their architectural variability and flow patterns.

    Ecological connectivity – Polymetallic Sulfides at Hydrothermal Vents

    • The connection between active and inactive hydrothermal vent fields and the effects of the associated plumes and productivity is analyzed.

    Resilience of benthic communities at polymetallic sulfides: vent surrounding areas & senescent vents

    • This section covers the resilience of benthic communities to polymetallic sulfides, both in active vent areas and in areas surrounding inactive vents.
    • Shared species within active and inactive vent areas and populations are highlighted.

    Resilience of benthic communities at polymetallic sulfides: vent surrounding areas

    • This section examines the influence of vent fluids on the distribution and abundance of consumers in the vicinity of Rainbow vent fields.
    • The presence of copepods, polychaetes, and nematodes, and the associated 813C values are reported.

    Fauna at inactive and extinct vents

    • Knowledge about the fauna in inactive and extinct hydrothermal vents is very limited.
    • Examples of organisms found in these vents include hydroids, anemones, barnacles, sponges, corals, lobsters, and holothurians.

    The vent ecosystem and its biodiversity

    • Active vent fields are characterized by high biodiversity and a close spatial relationship among the different elements of the ecosystem.
    • Inactive vent fields display generally lower biodiversity indices.

    Abyssal plains / Hot vents

    • A comparison of abyssal plains and hot vents highlights their differences, including light availability, temperature stability, food sources, and faunal biomass.

    Global increasing demand for minerals

    • The increasing demand for minerals, and the necessity for extraction materials like zinc, iron, silver, and gold are underscored.
    • The images in this section portray electronic devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones) and electric vehicles, underscoring the high demand for minerals needed for these products.

    Deep-sea mineral resources

    • A map depicts global exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulfides, and cobalt-rich crusts.
    • The different types of deep-sea mineral resources and the regions where they are found are discussed.

    Polymetallic Nodules

    • Polymetallic nodules have metal concentrations that potentially exceed those found in land-based reserves but are slowly growing, at rates of millimeters per million years.
    • Their distribution and abundance in specific areas, like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and the Peru Basin, are characterized.

    Variability in nodule abundance within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

    • Variability in nodule distribution and abundance exists within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
    • Distinct nodule sizes and concentrations are illustrated.

    Nodule growth rate from core to rim

    • The growth of nodules from the core to the rim is shown, plotted against time.

    Average abundance of nodules

    • Variability of nodule abundance is mapped out across different geographic areas.
    • Distribution patterns and abundance values (in kilograms per m²) for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Peru Basin, Indian Ocean, and Cook Islands are displayed.

    Polymetallic Sulfides

    • Polymetallic sulfides form on or below the seabed and are associated with hydrothermal vents located in mid-ocean ridges and back-arc basins.
    • Images of polymetallic sulfides are displayed, showing the variety of their morphology and composition.

    Mining impact on abyssal plains

    • Illustration showing what the deep-sea floor in an abyssal plain may look like.

    Environmental impacts and risks of deep-sea mining

    • Test-mining of polymetallic nodules in a Belgian and German Exploration Area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in 2021 and other operations have been carried out to study the impacts of mining.
    • Observations of plume dispersal and recovery after test-mining are documented.

    Patania 2 impact: CCZ 2021

    • Images of pre-impact, direct impact, and indirect impact sites are presented.

    26yr old test-mining track

    • The long-term effects of mining are evident in the photograph of a test-mining track.

    Impaired microbial loop after 26 years

    • The effect of mining on the microbial loop is observed using nematode density measures.

    Nodules required to preserve abyssal epifauna

    • Images show the presence/absence of epifauna on top of polymetallic nodules in various areas (e.g. Clarion-Clipperton Zone).
    • It demonstrates differences in epifaunal communities.

    Deployment of >100 experiments

    • The deployment of over 100 experiments in BGR, GSR, and other areas is reported, demonstrating the continued scientific study of the impact of mining activity.

    Exploration licenses - sulfides

    • A global map is presented with exploration licenses showing the distribution of polymetallic sulfides, including regions within and beyond national jurisdiction (e.g., areas in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge).

    Bulk cutter (Nautilus minerals)

    • A picture of the bulk cutter used for harvesting polymetallic sulfides is displayed.

    Test mining in national waters (2017)

    • Details of test mining activities occurring in Japan's national waters in 2017 are elaborated.
    • The video link to the test mining in Okinawa is provided.

    Expected impact of mining on the marine environment

    • The expected impact of mining is described.
    • The possibility of long-term, large-scale, and substantial environmental effects on the seafloor and organisms is recognized.

    Mitigation

    • A mitigation hierarchy is presented to address environmental impact risks.
    • Four mitigation strategies (avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation/restoration, and biodiversity offsetting) are proposed.

    Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs)

    • Regional plans to protect the deep sea from a multitude of impacts and disturbances are described.
    • The plans provide structure to guide future development activities in the region.

    Removal of nodules

    • Considerations about the consequences of removing polymetallic nodules on the related ecosystem over geological time scales are examined.

    Deployment of >100 experiments

    • Experiments on polymetallic nodules and related areas, conducted by relevant organizations, are displayed. These experiments are explained in terms of supporting research.

    Unique vent fields along nMAR

    • A map showing unique vent fields along nMAR (North Mid-Atlantic Ridge) is presented, along with their locations and need for protection.

    Unique vent fields in the Indian Ocean

    • A map showing unique vent fields along the Indian Ocean is shown, together with their locations and need for protection. A table summarizes the fields.

    Application of scientific criteria for identifying hydrothermal ecosystems in need of protection

    • Criteria for assessing vulnerability of marine hydrothermal ecosystems in deep ocean areas are identified.
    • Nine criteria are applied to assessing hydrothermal vent characteristics on the North Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This was based on studying uniqueness, functional status, fragility, life history, structural characteristics, and other criteria.

    What area would need protection?

    • The need for a 3D zone to protect active hydrothermal vents is identified and emphasized based on scientific knowledge. Current protection involves coordinates for active vents (SINP) and zoning schemes.

    Resilience of deep-sea ecosystems

    • The resilience of deep-sea ecosystems, and specific considerations to mitigate impacts of deep-sea mining are given.
    • Methods and actions for restoration of affected areas are highlighted.

    Recent DOSI minerals WG activities

    • DOSI (Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative) activities, which consist of collaborations, expert contributions, workshops, reports, and commentary, are explained in relation to the policy implications of deep-sea mining practices.

    One Ocean – Whose Ocean?

    • There are multiple paths to the sustainability of the ocean.
    • The ocean is a global resource that needs to be managed carefully.

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