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Mesopelagic Scattering Layer Behaviors Across the Clarion-Clipperton Zone: Implications for Deep-Sea Mining
- Source :
- Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 8 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.
-
Abstract
- The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) is a 4 million km2 area in the eastern Central Pacific Ocean exhibiting large variability in environmental parameters, particularly oxygen and primary production, that is being targeted for deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining. This remote region’s pelagic biology is very poorly sampled, including for micronekton and zooplankton that provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon flux and support for commercial fisheries. We built a baseline of deep scattering layer (DSL) depths and vertical migration behaviors, proxies for mesopelagic micronekton and zooplankton communities, using shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler datasets. Acoustic data (38 kHz, 75 kHz) were compiled from research cruises passing near or through the CCZ (2004–2019), and environmental data (mean midwater oxygen partial pressure, surface chlorophyll-a, and sea surface height anomaly) were assembled from the World Ocean Atlas and satellite oceanographic datasets. Our results suggest that midwater oxygen, associated with the Eastern Tropical Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ), is the strongest predictor of daytime DSL depths and the proportions of midwater populations that undergo vertical migration in this region. We used these relationships to predict micronekton and zooplankton behaviors across the CCZ, including licensed mining exploration areas and no-mining reserves. While the OMZ encompasses most licensed exploration areas, the current network of reserves lies outside of the core OMZ and ultimately may not represent or protect the pelagic OMZ fauna at highest risk from mining impacts. This research will further assist in developing resource exploitation regulations by the International Seabed Authority, and will provide mesopelagic baseline information for monitoring changes that may occur in the CCZ once industrial-scale mining begins.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Mesopelagic zone
Science
Ocean Engineering
Aquatic Science
QH1-199.5
Oxygen minimum zone
Oceanography
01 natural sciences
Zooplankton
scattering layers
World Ocean Atlas
deep-sea mining
Deep sea mining
oxygen minimum zone
Deep scattering layer
mesopelagic
Diel vertical migration
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Water Science and Technology
Global and Planetary Change
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
micronekton
General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
Pelagic zone
Clarion-Clipperton Zone
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22967745
- Volume :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Marine Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....df22ae06140399bf74e28da49fc75683