Biological responses to disturbance from simulated deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining.
Commercial-scale mining for polymetallic nodules could have a major impact on the deep-sea environment, but the effects of these mining activities on deep-sea ecosystems are very poorly known. The first commercial test mining for polymetallic nodules was carried out in 1970. Since then a number of small-scale commercial test mining or scientific disturbance studies have been carried out. Here we evaluate changes in faunal densities and diversity of benthic communities measured in response to these 11 simulated or test nodule mining disturbances using meta-analysis techniques. We find that impacts are often severe immediately after mining, with major negative changes in density and diversity of most groups occurring. However, in some cases, the mobile fauna and small-sized fauna experienced less negative impacts over the longer term. At seven sites in the Pacific, multiple surveys assessed recovery in fauna over periods of up to 26 years. Almost all studies show some recovery in faunal density and diversity for meiofauna and mobile megafauna, often within one year. However, very few faunal groups return to baseline or control conditions after two decades. The effects of polymetallic nodule mining are likely to be long term. Our analyses show considerable negative biological effects of seafloor nodule mining, even at the small scale of test mining experiments, although there is variation in sensitivity amongst organisms of different sizes and functional groups, which have important implications for ecosystem responses. Unfortunately, many past studies have limitations that reduce their effectiveness in determining responses. We provide recommendations to improve future mining impact test studies. Further research to assess the effects of test-mining activities will inform ways to improve mining practices and guide effective environmental management of mining activities.
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Daniel O B
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649
DO
Jones
Senckenberg am Meer, German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Kaiser
The Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Andrew K
AK
Sweetman
Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America.
Craig R
CR
Smith
Ifremer, Centre de Bretagne, Plouzané, France.
Lenaick
L
Menot
Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources), Geozentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Annemiek
A
Vink
NOAA Office for Coastal Management, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
Dwight
D
Trueblood
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre For Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany.|Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Institute of Geosciences, Kiel, Germany.
Jens
J
Greinert
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.
David S M
DS
Billett
Senckenberg am Meer, German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Pedro Martinez
PM
Arbizu
Palaeoceanology Unit, Faculty of Geosciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
Teresa
T
Radziejewska
Senckenberg am Meer, German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Ravail
R
Singh
CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India.
Baban
B
Ingole
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, and Utrecht University, Yerseke, The Netherlands.
Tanja
T
Stratmann
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.|Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Erik
E
Simon-Lledó
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.|Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Jennifer M
JM
Durden
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Malcolm R
MR
Clark
D000465:Algorithms; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D008906:Mining; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas