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Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs

Author

Listed:
  • Michael H. Dowd

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Victoria E. Assad

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Alexus E. Cazares-Nuesser

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Jeffrey C. Drazen

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Erica Goetze

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Angelicque E. White

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Brian N. Popp

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

Abstract

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone contains extensive beds of polymetallic nodules on the abyssal seafloor, with vast areas (~1.5 million km2) under license for deep-sea mining. Mining companies have proposed discharging excess waste generated during nodule extraction in the lower mesopelagic and upper bathypelagic zones, which are home to a unique faunal community including zooplankton and micronekton. Here, using compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids, we find that natural background particles larger than 6 µm form the base of the food web, but will be diluted by the same sized, nutritionally deficient mining-associated particles. Given that 53% of zooplankton taxa are particle feeders and 60% of micronekton taxa are zooplanktivores at proposed discharge depths, there is significant potential for food-web disruption. Therefore, we show that a midwater mining plume could trigger bottom-up ecosystem impacts with potentially severe consequences for the faunal community, extending beyond zooplankton and micronekton to nekton, including large marine predators.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael H. Dowd & Victoria E. Assad & Alexus E. Cazares-Nuesser & Jeffrey C. Drazen & Erica Goetze & Angelicque E. White & Brian N. Popp, 2025. "Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65411-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65411-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vanessa I. Stenvers & Helena Hauss & Till Bayer & Charlotte Havermans & Ute Hentschel & Lara Schmittmann & Andrew K. Sweetman & Henk-Jan T. Hoving, 2023. "Experimental mining plumes and ocean warming trigger stress in a deep pelagic jellyfish," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Michael H. Dowd & Victoria E. Assad & Alexus E. Cazares-Nuesser & Jeffrey C. Drazen & Erica Goetze & Angelicque E. White & Brian N. Popp, 2025. "Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Lothar Stramma & Eric D. Prince & Sunke Schmidtko & Jiangang Luo & John P. Hoolihan & Martin Visbeck & Douglas W. R. Wallace & Peter Brandt & Arne Körtzinger, 2012. "Expansion of oxygen minimum zones may reduce available habitat for tropical pelagic fishes," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 33-37, January.
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    1. Michael H. Dowd & Victoria E. Assad & Alexus E. Cazares-Nuesser & Jeffrey C. Drazen & Erica Goetze & Angelicque E. White & Brian N. Popp, 2025. "Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.

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