scholarly journals Effects of a deep-sea mining experiment on seafloor microbial communities and functions after 26 years

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (18) ◽  
pp. eaaz5922 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Vonnahme ◽  
M. Molari ◽  
F. Janssen ◽  
F. Wenzhöfer ◽  
M. Haeckel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ecological Integrity ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Environmental Standards ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Habitat Integrity ◽  
Nodule Mining

Future supplies of rare minerals for global industries with high-tech products may depend on deep-sea mining. However, environmental standards for seafloor integrity and recovery from environmental impacts are missing. We revisited the only midsize deep-sea disturbance and recolonization experiment carried out in 1989 in the Peru Basin nodule field to compare habitat integrity, remineralization rates, and carbon flow with undisturbed sites. Plough tracks were still visible, indicating sites where sediment was either removed or compacted. Locally, microbial activity was reduced up to fourfold in the affected areas. Microbial cell numbers were reduced by ~50% in fresh “tracks” and by <30% in the old tracks. Growth estimates suggest that microbially mediated biogeochemical functions need over 50 years to return to undisturbed levels. This study contributes to developing environmental standards for deep-sea mining while addressing limits to maintaining and recovering ecological integrity during large-scale nodule mining.

scholarly journals Impact of deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining on benthic microbial community and mediated biogeochemical functions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Molari ◽  
Tobias R. Vonnahme ◽  
Felix Janssen ◽  
Frank Wenzhöfer ◽  
Matthias Haeckel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ecological Integrity ◽  
Environmental Standards ◽  
Metal Cycling ◽  
Polymetallic Nodule ◽  
Habitat Integrity ◽  
Benthic Microbial Community ◽  
Nodule Mining

&lt;p&gt;Industrial-scale mining of deep-sea polymetallic nodules will remove nodules in large areas and impact the physical integrity of the seafloor. However, environmental standards for seafloor integrity and studies of recovery from environmental impacts are still largely missing. Further we have only a poor understanding of the role of nodules in shaping benthic microbial diversity and element cycles. We revisited the deep-sea disturbance and recolonization experiment carried out with a towed plough harrow in 1989 in the Peru Basin nodule field within a circular area of approx. 3.5 km diameter (&gt;4100 m water depth). In the experimental area, the 26 years old plough tracks were still visible and showed different types and levels of disturbance such as removal and compaction of surface sediments. Microbial communities and their diversity were studied in disturbance tracks and undisturbed sites and related to habitat integrity, remineralization rates, and carbon flow. Locally, microbial activity was reduced up to 4 times in the impacted areas. Microbial cell numbers were reduced by ~50% in fresh, and by &lt;30% in the old tracks. Our data suggest that microbially-mediated biogeochemical functions need more than 50 years to return to undisturbed levels in the sediments. In areas with nodules (i.e., outside the disturbance tracks) microbial communities in the nodules themselves were studied. Nodule communities were distinct from sediments and showed a lower diversity and a higher proportion of sequences related to potential metal-cycling bacteria (i.e. Magnetospiraceae, Hyphomicrobiaceae), bacterial and archaeal nitrifiers (i.e. &lt;em&gt;AqS1&lt;/em&gt;, unclassified Nitrosomonadaceae, &lt;em&gt;Nitrosopumilus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Nitrospina&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Nitrospira&lt;/em&gt;), as well as bacterial sequences typically found in ocean crust, hydrothermal deposits and sessile fauna. Our results confirm that nodules host specific microbial communities with potentially significant contributions to organic carbon remineralization and metal cycling. This study contributes to developing environmental standards for deep-sea mining and highlights the limits for maintaining and recovering ecological integrity and functions during large-scale nodule mining.&lt;/p&gt;

Experimental Investigation Into Soil and Mechanical Pick-up Device Interaction in Nodule Mining of Deep Seabed

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 73-92
Author(s):  
Krishnan Sudarvelazhagan ◽  
Kuchibhotla Srinivas ◽  
Murugesan Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Senthamari Raju Raguraman ◽  
Chullickal Raphael Deepak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Variable Parameters ◽  
Polymetallic Nodule ◽  
Research Outcome ◽  
Nodule Mining ◽  
Device Interaction

Abstract This research is focused to experimentally analyze the nodule picking efficiency of a deep sea mechanical pick-up device developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology, India. Experiments were conducted in a simulation tank with different operating parameters on a bentonite soil bed simulating the deep seabed and artificial nodules. Digging depth of the pick-up device, its angle and haulage velocity were the input variable parameters. From the experimental investigations, the values of the operating parameters that result in the highest pick-up efficiency were identified. The nodule picking efficiency increased as the pick-up device inclination was increased and reduced when the digging depth and haulage velocity were increased. The maximum nodule picking efficiency was 85% when the haulage speed, digging depth, and pick-up device inclination were 0.0375 m/s, 25 mm, and 30°, respectively. The research outcome would be useful in actual deep seabed conditions for efficient polymetallic nodule mining. Multiple mining machines with increased working width are proposed for large-scale operations.

Parametrization and evaluation of marine environmental impacts produced by deep-sea manganese nodule mining

2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 3453-3467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst U Oebius ◽  
Hermann J Becker ◽  
Susanne Rolinski ◽  
Jacek A Jankowski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Manganese Nodule ◽  
Nodule Mining ◽  
Marine Environmental

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-TECH SECTORS OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
A. M. GUBERNATOROV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Russian Economy ◽  
Main Development ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
Digital Processes

The article deals with the management of innovative development of economic systems. Enterprises of high-tech sectors of the economy were selected as the object of the study. It is proved that innovative trans-formations in the chosen industry are inevitable and this industry is undergoing significant transformations caused by large-scale digital processes. It is proved that the effectiveness of the innovative development of the industry is associated with the monitoring of its main development indicators, and therefore a system for evaluating the innovative development of high-tech industries based on key indicators is proposed.

Directions of Economic and Ecological Transformation of Enterprises of the Defence-industrial Complex of Ukraine

2021 ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
Oleksii Hutsaliuk ◽  
◽  
Tatiana Obniavko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Cumulative Deterioration ◽  
High Level

Since the beginning of the third millennium, ecological safety has become of paramount importance for Ukraine. The cumulative deterioration of the environment, fixed by the annual official reports on the ecological situation in the country, is fraught with irreparable consequences not only for the present generations, but also for descendants. The authors propose to consider the enterprises of the defence-industrial complex (DIC) of Ukraine as those that make a significant contribution to the development of the economy of the country, while not only not destroying the environment, but also contributing to sustainable development. The defence-industrial complex of Ukraine is the basis of the high-tech sector of the Ukrainian economy, which determines its key importance for the functioning and development of the entire national economy, in the current period of change of technological modes, as the enterprises of the Ukrainian defence-industrial complex have a high level of innovation. One of the key features of the domestic defence-industrial complex is that it has the potential to concentrate various types of resources to achieve breakthrough results not only in addressing the issues of creating the latest weapons and military equipment, but also for implementing large-scale projects of national economic importance. This potential for breakthrough development currently remains underutilized, requiring adjustments not only in industrial, but also in state economic policy as a whole. The current state of development of defence industry enterprises is characterized by insufficient economic and environmental sustainability and requires modernization based on global experience in the greening of the military-defence sphere and NATO environmental standards, which will have environmental and economic effects. The obstacles of economic and ecological transformation of enterprises of the defence-industrial complex of Ukraine were identified and a number of managerial decisions that can become drivers to accelerate the economic and ecological transformation of the defence-industrial complex of Ukraine were proposed.

The long-term development of Russian biotech sector

foresight ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Grebenyuk ◽  
Nikolai Ravin
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Plant Biotechnology ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Usa

Purpose To define strategic directions for the Russia’s social, economic, scientific and technological development in 2011-2013, a large-scale foresight study including the deep analysis of prospects of biotechnology development there was undertaken (Russia 2030: Science and Technology Foresight). This paper aims to present results of this research. Design/methodology/approach The study was based on a combination of technology-push and market-pull approaches that aimed not only to identify most promising science and technology (S&T) areas but also to understand how they can be realized in practice. Representatives from federal authorities, science and business were involved in the project to create future visions of technological directions; analyze grand challenges, weak signals and wild cards; and set research and development (R&D) priorities. Findings According to results of the study, Russia has a potential for biotech sector development, although the level of R&D in the majority of areas is lagging behind that in the USA and leading EU countries. However, there are several advanced applied research areas where efforts can be focused. Among them are high-performance genomics and post-genomics research platforms, systems and structural biology, microbial metabolic engineering, plant biotechnology and microbial strains and consortia for development of symbiotic plant–microbial communities. Originality/value Concentration of available resources of government and business on biotechnological sector development can help to find answers for challenges that Russia faces today or will face tomorrow. It will help to pick up on the current level of research activities, improve the quality of personnel training, make this area the engine of the economy and carry out the so-called new industrialization of the country, building a new, high-tech device industry.

scholarly journals Environmental considerations for impact and preservation reference zones for deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining

Marine Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel O.B. Jones ◽  
Jeff A. Ardron ◽  
Ana Colaço ◽  
Jennifer M. Durden
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Polymetallic Nodule ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Nodule Mining

scholarly journals Limitations of microbial hydrocarbon degradation at the Amon mud volcano (Nile deep-sea fan)

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 3269-3283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Felden ◽  
A. Lichtschlag ◽  
F. Wenzhöfer ◽  
D. de Beer ◽  
T. Feseker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Mud Volcano ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Central Dome ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Hydrocarbon Transport ◽  
Sea Fan ◽  
Hydrocarbon Degraders

Abstract. The Amon mud volcano (MV), located at 1250 m water depth on the Nile deep-sea fan, is known for its active emission of methane and non-methane hydrocarbons into the hydrosphere. Previous investigations showed a low efficiency of hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic microbial communities inhabiting the Amon MV center in the presence of sulfate and hydrocarbons in the seeping subsurface fluids. By comparing spatial and temporal patterns of in situ biogeochemical fluxes, temperature gradients, pore water composition, and microbial activities over 3 yr, we investigated why the activity of anaerobic hydrocarbon degraders can be low despite high energy supplies. We found that the central dome of the Amon MV, as well as a lateral mud flow at its base, showed signs of recent exposure of hot subsurface muds lacking active hydrocarbon degrading communities. In these highly disturbed areas, anaerobic degradation of methane was less than 2% of the methane flux. Rather high oxygen consumption rates compared to low sulfide production suggest a faster development of more rapidly growing aerobic hydrocarbon degraders in highly disturbed areas. In contrast, the more stabilized muds surrounding the central gas and fluid conduits hosted active anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities. The low microbial activity in the hydrocarbon-vented areas of Amon MV is thus a consequence of kinetic limitations by heat and mud expulsion, whereas most of the outer MV area is limited by hydrocarbon transport.

scholarly journals Correlation-Centric Network (CCN) representation for microbial co-occurrence patterns: new insights for microbial ecology

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengshuo Yang ◽  
Chongyang Tan ◽  
Maozhen Han ◽  
Lin Cheng ◽  
Xuefeng Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Environmental Disturbance ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Metagenome Analysis ◽  
Occurrence Patterns ◽  
Edge Networks

Abstract Mainstream studies of microbial community focused on critical organisms and their physiology. Recent advances in large-scale metagenome analysis projects initiated new researches in the complex correlations between large microbial communities. Specifically, previous studies focused on the nodes (i.e. species) of the Species-Centric Networks (SCNs). However, little was understood about the change of correlation between network members (i.e. edges of the SCNs) when the network was disturbed. Here, we introduced a Correlation-Centric Network (CCN) to the microbial research based on the concept of edge networks. In CCN, each node represented a species–species correlation, and edge represented the species shared by two correlations. In this research, we investigated the CCNs and their corresponding SCNs on two large cohorts of microbiome. The results showed that CCNs not only retained the characteristics of SCNs, but also contained information that cannot be detected by SCNs. In addition, when the members of microbial communities were decreased (i.e. environmental disturbance), the CCNs fluctuated within a small range in terms of network connectivity. Therefore, by highlighting the important species correlations, CCNs could unveil new insights when studying not only the functions of target species, but also the stabilities of their residing microbial communities.

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