Workpackage 1

Biodiversity, connectivity, resilience

Contributors

UAveiro, IMAR, IFREMER, NHM, NIOZ, MPI, RBINS, SGN, UGhent, ULodz, UNIVPM, UResearch

Goals and objectives

The primary goal of WP 1 is to understand the regional distribution patterns and biodiversity of biological assemblages, i.e. microbes, meiofauna, macrofauna, and megafauna, and their resilience to disturbances arising from mining operations.

Specific objectives to be addressed are:

• To assess standing stocks, biodiversity a well as taxonomical and trophic composition of the biota in relation to environmental spatial variability

• To increase knowledge on taxonomical and functional biodiversity, biogeography and connectivity by applying integrated molecular and morphological approaches

• To determine biodiversity indicators of “Good Environmental Status” and to assess the short-term impact of an experimental mining created during the nodule collector trial on benthic assemblages as a function of disturbance intensity and habitat variability

• To assess the resilience of biological assemblages and individual species at various spatial and temporal scales

• To develop and test molecular methods and protocols for biodiversity assessment and environmental monitoring