PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF EPILITHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE NORI-D POLYMETALLIC NODULE LEASE AREA IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CLARION-CLIPPERTON ZONE

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean is home to a diverse community of undescribed foraminifera and foraminifera-like lifeforms that rely on polymetallic nodules for habitat. Encrusting and attached foraminifera are dominant components of all biological size classes (meio-, macro-, mega-) amongst nodule fields, so it is necessary to characterize this ecosystem to understand these epilithic communities. Epilithic organisms, such as encrusting foraminifera, komokiacea, and xenophyophorea, are especially susceptible to deep sea mining (DSM) impacts like direct removal of hard substrate and subsequent burial from ambient sediment plumes. Nodule assemblages from two multicore sites in the NORI-D region were analyzed using photography, microscopy, and morphological taxonomy. A serialized photograph and taxonomic description system were used to keep track of undescribed species and to maintain taxonomic consistency. Greater than 95 distinct species of attached foraminifera have been identified. Foraminifera were the primary inhabitants of the polymetallic nodules examined.  Certain species preferred hydrogenetic, diagenetic, or cracked surfaces. This study addresses and contributes to the understanding of an enigmatic abyssal plain community that will be affected by nodule mining.

For more information: amelkin@eckerd.edu

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