Diversity of Deep-Sea Scale-Worms (Annelida, Polynoidae) in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone.

Bonifácio, Paulo, Neal, Lenka and Menot, Lénaïck (2021) Diversity of Deep-Sea Scale-Worms (Annelida, Polynoidae) in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Open Access Frontiers in Marine Science, 8 (Art.Nr. 656899). DOI 10.3389/fmars.2021.656899.

[thumbnail of fmars-08-656899.pdf]
Preview
Text
fmars-08-656899.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0.

Download (1MB)
[thumbnail of 5580807.zip] Archive
5580807.zip - Supplemental Material
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0.

Download (2MB)

Supplementary data:

Abstract

The polymetallic nodules lying on the seafloor of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) represent over 30 billion metric tons of manganese. A single mining operation has potential to directly impact approximately 200 km 2 of the seabed per year. Yet, the biodiversity and functioning of the bentho-demersal ecosystem in the CCFZ remain poorly understood. Recent studies indicate a high species diversity in a food-poor environment, although the area remains poorly sampled. Undersampling is aggravated by a combination of low densities of fauna and high habitat heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales. This study examines the Polynoidae, a diverse family of mobile polychaetes. Sampling with an epibenthic sledge and a remotely operated vehicle was performed during the cruise SO239 within the eastern CCFZ. Five areas under the influence of a sea surface productivity gradient were visited. Specimens were identified using morphology and DNA: (i) to provide a more comprehensive account of polynoid diversity within the CCFZ, (ii) to infer factors potentially driving alpha and beta diversity, and (iii) to test the hypothesis that epibenthic polychaetes have low species turnover and large species range. Patterns of species turnover across the eastern CCFZ were correlated with organic carbon fluxes to the seafloor but there was also a differentiation in the composition of assemblages north and south of the Clarion fracture. In contrast to the previous studies, patterns of alpha taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity both suggest that polynoid assemblages are the most diverse at Area of Particular Environmental Interest no. 3, the most oligotrophic study site, located north of the Clarion fracture. Without ruling out the possibility of sampling bias, the main hypothesis explaining such high diversity is the diversification of polynoid subfamily Macellicephalinae, in response to oligotrophy. We propose that macellicephalins evolved under extremely low food supply conditions through adoption of a semi-pelagic mode of life, which enabled them to colonise new niches at the benthic boundary layer and foster their radiation at great depths.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: diversity and distribution, Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, nodule province, scale-worms, Polychaeta, diversification
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: Yes
Publisher: Frontiers
Related URLs:
Projects: JPIO-MiningImpact, REMIMA, MIDAS
Expeditions/Models/Experiments:
Date Deposited: 15 Nov 2021 09:05
Last Modified: 07 Feb 2024 15:37
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/54404

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item