Abyssal fauna of the UK-1 polymetallic nodule exploration claim, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Echinodermata.

Thomas Dahlgren,Tim O'Hara,Craig Smith,Christopher Mah,Adrian Glover,Muriel Rabone,Helena Wiklund,Diva Amon

doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7251

Abstract

We present data from a DNA taxonomy register of the abyssal benthic Echinodermata collected as part of the Abyssal Baseline (ABYSSLINE) environmental survey cruise ‘AB01’ to the UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) polymetallic-nodule exploration claim ‘UK-1’ in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), central Pacific Ocean abyssal plain. Morphological and genetic data are presented for 17 species (4 Asteroidea, 4 Crinoidea, 2 Holothuroidea and 7 Ophiuroidea) identified by a combination of morphological and genetic data. No taxa matched previously published genetic sequences, but 8 taxa could be assigned to previously-described species based on morphology, although here we have used a precautionary approach in taxon assignments to avoid over-estimating species ranges. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is a region undergoing intense exploration for potential deep-sea mineral extraction. We present these data to facilitate future taxonomic and environmental impact study by making both data and voucher materials available through curated and accessible biological collections.

Highlights

We present data from a DNA taxonomy register of the abyssal benthic Echinodermata collected as part of the Abyssal Baseline (ABYSSLINE) environmental survey cruise ‘AB01’ to the UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) polymetallic-nodule exploration claim ‘UK-1’ in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), central Pacific Ocean (Smith et al 2013)
All of our data are publically available through the Darwin Core outputs on this manuscript which are automatically fed into data aggregators such as GBIF and OBIS (Smith et al 2013)
All of our species determinations are supported by molecular DNA sequences, the data made available on GenBank and the voucher materials deposited in the Molecular Collections Facility of the Natural History Museum, London where they are available for future study by research visit or loan

Summary

Introduction

We present data from a DNA taxonomy register of the abyssal benthic Echinodermata collected as part of the Abyssal Baseline (ABYSSLINE) environmental survey cruise ‘AB01’ to the UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) polymetallic-nodule exploration claim ‘UK-1’ in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), central Pacific Ocean (Smith et al 2013). Within the 6 million sq km CCZ, as defined above, current online data sources prior to this publication list only 50 known species of echinoderms from 290 records (OBIS 2015) This is obviously the result of lack of sampling and/or taxonomy given that an abundant and diverse echinoderm fauna is suspected in the region from photographic and video survey We provide version 1.0 of the Echinodermata taxonomic synthesis from the ABYSSLINE program, consisting of taxon records, high-resolution imagery, genetic data from multiple markers and phylogenetic analysis from the first research cruise (AB01) aboard the RV Melville in October 2013 This open data publication is intended to be supported by equivalent similar data publications on the Annelida, Mollusca, Bryozoa, Cnidaria, Porifera and other taxa forming a suite of taxonomic syntheses of biodiversity in the region, supported by a contract between the company UK Seabed Resources Ltd and the Natural History Museum, London and Uni Research, Bergen, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa

Materials and methods

Findings

Discussion