MIMeS Biodiversity − Monitoring the Impact of deep-sea Mining on biodiversity by Environmental DNA Sequencing

• Applicants: Dr. Massimiliano Molari; Professor Dr. Thorsten Stoeck
• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514059948

Metals are essential for the modern high-technology world, including the transition to green energy production. The decline of global stocks of resources on land forces industries to seek mineral deposits such as polymetallic nodules in the deep seabed. The world's first tests of an industrial pre-prototype collector for mining polymetallic nodules took place in the spring of 2021 in the Belgian and Germian exploration licence areas in the nodule deposit belt of the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ). The main goal of MIMeS project is to apply environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing for assessing the impact of the pre-prototype collector on deep-sea biodiversity. For this purpose, more than 150 sediment samples will be collected during the expedition SO295 planned for next fall (Oct-Dec 2022) in the collector test sites. The specific aims of this project are: (i) to apply environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA) approaches to resolve natural variability (both spatial and temporal) of microbial and metazoan diversity in areas potentially interested by mining activities; (ii) to study the response of benthic organisms to the pre-prototype collector operations 18 months after the tests; (iii) to contribute to the standardisation of eDNA/eRNA procedures for biomonitoring and the identification of bioindicators of the ecological quality status of deep-sea environments.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Pedro M. Martinez Arbizu