Biodiversity of nematode assemblages from the region of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone an area of commercial mining interest

摘要

BackgroundThe possibility for commercial mining of deep-sea manganese nodules is currently under exploration in the abyssal Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Nematodes have potential for biomonitoring of the impact of commercial activity but the natural biodiversity is unknown. We investigate the feasibility of nematodes as biomonitoring organisms and give information about their natural biodiversity.