Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest

Abstract The eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) is a heterogeneous abyssal environment harbouring relatively low abundances of highly diverse megafauna communities. Potential future mining of polymetallic nodules threatens these benthic communities and calls for detailed spatial investig...

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Main Authors: Katja Uhlenkott, Erik Simon-Lledó, Annemiek Vink, Pedro Martínez Arbizu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12323-0
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author Katja Uhlenkott
Erik Simon-Lledó
Annemiek Vink
Pedro Martínez Arbizu
author_facet Katja Uhlenkott
Erik Simon-Lledó
Annemiek Vink
Pedro Martínez Arbizu
author_sort Katja Uhlenkott
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) is a heterogeneous abyssal environment harbouring relatively low abundances of highly diverse megafauna communities. Potential future mining of polymetallic nodules threatens these benthic communities and calls for detailed spatial investigation of megafauna. Based on the predicted probability of occurrence of 68 megafauna morphotypes, a seabed area extending over 62,000 km2 was divided into three assemblages covering an eastern plain area, a deeper western plain area and an area covering both seamount and abyssal hill sites. Richness, estimated as the sum of morphotypes with a predicted probability of occurrence larger than 0.5, amounts to 15.4 of 68 morphotypes. Highest richness was predicted at seamount sites, and lowest richness in the western part of the study area. Combining the predicted probability of megafauna occurrences with bathymetric variables, two seamount habitats and two plain habitats could be defined. One of these megafauna plain habitats corresponds with contiguous nodule fields of high abundance that may be targeted for future mining, showing that prospective nodule fields have a clearly differentiated megafauna assemblage. Monitoring and management schemes, including the delineation of preservation and protection areas within contract areas, need to incorporate this geological and biological heterogeneity.
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spelling doaj.art-fb5da82424974f9aad3fb376f5a5d7222022-12-22T03:25:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-05-0112111110.1038/s41598-022-12323-0Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forestKatja Uhlenkott0Erik Simon-Lledó1Annemiek Vink2Pedro Martínez Arbizu3German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Senckenberg am MeerNational Oceanography Centre, Empress DockFederal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Senckenberg am MeerAbstract The eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) is a heterogeneous abyssal environment harbouring relatively low abundances of highly diverse megafauna communities. Potential future mining of polymetallic nodules threatens these benthic communities and calls for detailed spatial investigation of megafauna. Based on the predicted probability of occurrence of 68 megafauna morphotypes, a seabed area extending over 62,000 km2 was divided into three assemblages covering an eastern plain area, a deeper western plain area and an area covering both seamount and abyssal hill sites. Richness, estimated as the sum of morphotypes with a predicted probability of occurrence larger than 0.5, amounts to 15.4 of 68 morphotypes. Highest richness was predicted at seamount sites, and lowest richness in the western part of the study area. Combining the predicted probability of megafauna occurrences with bathymetric variables, two seamount habitats and two plain habitats could be defined. One of these megafauna plain habitats corresponds with contiguous nodule fields of high abundance that may be targeted for future mining, showing that prospective nodule fields have a clearly differentiated megafauna assemblage. Monitoring and management schemes, including the delineation of preservation and protection areas within contract areas, need to incorporate this geological and biological heterogeneity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12323-0
spellingShingle Katja Uhlenkott
Erik Simon-Lledó
Annemiek Vink
Pedro Martínez Arbizu
Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
Scientific Reports
title Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
title_full Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
title_fullStr Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
title_short Investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (north-east Pacific) based on distribution models predicted with random forest
title_sort investigating the benthic megafauna in the eastern clarion clipperton fracture zone north east pacific based on distribution models predicted with random forest
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12323-0
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