deep-sea ecosystems
deep-sea ecosystems on World Data Ocean: a running collection of 2 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on deep-sea ecosystems in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to explore, analyze, and… New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around deep-sea ecosystems, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything World Data Ocean is covering right now.
Combining scarce knowledge and participative process to implement the strictly protected areas 10% target in the Northwestern Mediterranean offshore areas
Reversing biodiversity loss demands robust action, and designating strictly protected areas (SPAs) is a demonstrably effective strategy. Achieving the European Biodiversity Strategy’s 10% marine SPA target requires expanding beyond coastal zones to encompass challenging offshore ecosystems. This study explores how maritime spatial planning (MSP) can unify disparate knowledge sources—ecological zonings, stakeholder input, and oceanographic data—to inform SPA network development in the Northwestern Mediterranean.
Cold seeps: climate relevance and anthropogenic impacts
Cold seeps, deep-sea features releasing hydrocarbon-rich fluids, represent significant conduits for carbon transfer from geologic stores to the ocean. As methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released, these seeps’ global distribution underscores their often-overlooked role in global carbon cycling. Hosting unique chemosynthetic ecosystems and providing “blue carbon” services, cold seeps offer vital climate-regulating functions—including carbon reservoir storage and natural emission reduction.