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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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Abstract<br />

CHAPTER 6<br />

IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEAFLOOR MASSIVE<br />

SULPHIDES ON THE VENT ECOSYSTEM<br />

S. Kim Juniper, GEOTOP Centre<br />

University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada<br />

The discovery of chemosynthetic-based ecosystems at hydrothermal<br />

vents in the deep ocean was arguably one of the most important biological<br />

findings of the 20th century. Nearly 500 new animal species have been<br />

described from this environment, most of which are endemic. Unusual,<br />

highly-evolved symbioses between invertebrates and chemolithoautotrophic<br />

bacteria are common at vents, and can produce concentrations of biomass that<br />

rival the most productive ecosystems on Earth. The abundance of ancient,<br />

extremophilic microbes in hydrothermal vent waters has stimulated new<br />

theories of the origin of life on Earth. It has also prompted astrobiologists to<br />

seriously consider underwater volcanoes as a likely source of energy for<br />

biosynthesis and maintenance of carbon-based life forms on other worlds.<br />

Hydrothermal vent science is now in its third decade of discovery. More than<br />

100 vent fields have been documented along the 60,000km global mid-ocean<br />

ridge system. Species conservation and environmental stewardship are<br />

becoming issues of particular concern to vent scientists. Hydrothermal faunal<br />

communities occupy very small areas of the seafloor and many sites contain<br />

animal species found nowhere else. As vent sites become the focus of mineral<br />

exploration and deep-sea mining, oversight organisations will need to<br />

develop mitigative measures to avoid significant loss of habitat or extinction<br />

of populations. This paper will provide a brief overview of vent biology and<br />

ecology, and attempt to identify issues critical to the evaluation of the<br />

potential impact of mining operations on the productivity and biodiversity of<br />

vent communities.<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 273

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