 Seamounts
The Defying Ocean's End theme group focusing on the ‘Unknown Ocean’ considered several poorly known ocean environments to determine needs for conservation action and/or research.
In comparing and ranking these ‘unknown’ habitats, the group first considered the habitat's characteristic ecological structure and processes, insofar as these are known, to assess several criteria:
• Likelihood that the biological community is specialized to the habitat.
• Known or probable level of biodiversity and endemism.
• Probable value of basic scientific knowledge to be gained from an undisturbed environment and community.
• Potential for irretrievable loss of ecological functions or species diversity from human disturbance.
• Known or anticipated human impacts that would have adverse effects.
• Sufficient preliminary knowledge to form a basis for timely research and/or conservation action.
• Feasibility of conservation actions with respect to technical possibility, economic costs and benefits, political limitations.
Species level data are lacking for many ‘unknown’ habitats, and further basic research in these areas is important to conservation, but elsewhere enough is known already to plan precautionary actions. In some instances, swift action is critical to avoid irrevocably losing many unknown ocean species before they can be discovered.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Initiate conservation action in 4 high priority ‘unknown’ habitats, chosen based on: human impacts; potential irreversible loss of habitat type or biodiversity; adequate initial data; and economic feasibility of conservation actions.
• Seamounts. Invest in a minimum of 45 ship days per year for 10 years for seamount sampling. Discover and research 10,000 new species within 10 years, and develop a global satellite-based surveillance system to enforce fishing restrictions on seamounts.
• Deep, "twilight zone" coral reefs. Within 3 years, identify priority areas, do 4 reef area surveys, and develop a pilot project for conserving one site. Over 10 years, survey an additional 10 or more sites and develop conservation strategies.
• Continental slope, canyons, cold seeps. Complete ecological surveys of 3 seep sites within 3 years, and determine changes there after 10 years.
• Anchialine habitats - underwater caves and blue holes. Complete field studies of at least 10 underwater cave environments in each major region of the world where they occur within 3 years, and complete at least 90% of all known cave environments within 10 years. Initiate conservation efforts wherever warranted.
Initiate research efforts in a second group of habitats with lower priority for immediate conservation attention, but warranting further research based on: high scientific or ecological value; inadequate initial data; no obvious immediate threats; opportunities for long-term conservation planning.
• Prokaryote (microbial) ecology. Use new genetic tools to survey microbial diversity and processes, which are fundamental to the functioning of all ecosystems, but poorly understood.
• Open ocean water column. Study this largest marine habitat, the source of most primary production and a vital link in the global cycles of carbon, heat, water and nutrients, and research the potential global effects of changes in these communities.
• Deep-sea benthos. Research this vast habitat that has exceptionally high biodiversity.
• Ridge and vent systems.Study these chemosynthetic (not dependent on photo-synthesis from the sun) communities for clues to the origin of life, and unique adaptations to extreme temperature and pressure.
• Frozen seas, ice edges. Study the important roles of these critical polar ecosystems, and the potential effects of climate warming.
• Fronts and upwelling zones.Research the effect of these areas on the survival of large pelagic fishes, reptiles and marine mammals.
Invest in improved data infrastructure for improved support to both research and conservation, in particular the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) of the Census of Marine Life. Establish new taxonomic authority groups, and build OBIS to 25 million records within 10 years.
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