Endowment Fund Travel Bursary for the 14th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, Portugal (Aug-Sept 2015) Report to the ISA Dr Maria Baker, INDEEP Project Manager and Bursary Awardees 1st October 2015

The International Seabed Authority generously funded a total of eight travel bursaries in order to enable scientists from seven different developing nations (Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, India and China) to attend the 14th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium in Aveiro, Portugal from 30th August to 4th September 2015. INDEEP received 24 applications for the Travel Bursary Awards and the applications were administered and reviewed by the INDEEP office and INDEEP Committee Members. We were delighted to be able to fund eight scientists for their travel and accommodation to enable them to attend this key scientific meeting. Unfortunately, we had two last-minute cancellations (Baban Ingole from India and Yadong Zhou from China) so in the end, six bursary awardees travelled to Portugal for the meeting. Here will follow an abstract of the work that each awardee presented along with a short report (and photograph) from each of them. I sincerely believe that they all gained a great deal from the opportunity that the ISA gave them to attend this meeting. The awardees were: Ignacio Chiesa (Argentina); Eulogio Soto (Chile); Kerry Sink (South Africa); Maurício Shimabukuro (Brazil); Judith Gobin (Trinidad and Tobago) and Naití Morales Serrano (Chile).

Amphipods from the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, southwest Atlantic Ocean

Ignacio Chiesa*, Martínez A, Doti BL

* Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, FCEyN, UBA and Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Peracarids are known to be extremely diverse in the benthic deep sea. Particularly for the amphipods, in the whole Southern Ocean, 80 species have been cited below 1000 m depth. The Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon is situated approximately 300 km east to Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In August 2012, a total of 4 benthic samples were taken on board the RV “Puerto Deseado” during the first Argentine expedition conducted in this area. The preliminary results presented herein are based on the study of a single sample taken in 37º57.9’ S, 54º31.9’ W, at 1144 m depth, using an epibenthic sledge equipped with a net of 1 mm mesh size. At least 38 species (some of them new to science) of benthic amphipods, belonging to 21 families were identified: Acanthonotozomellidae, Ampeliscidae, Ampithoidae, Caprellidae, Colomastigidae, Cyproideidae, Dexaminidae, Epimeriidae, Eusiridae, Ischyroceridae, Leucothoidae, Liljeborgiidae, Lysianassidae s.l., Melitidae, Oedicerotidae, Photidae, Phoxocephalidae, Podoceridae, Stegocephalidae, Stenothoidae and Urothoidae. The most abundant and diverse families were Ampeliscidae, Ischyroceridae, Lysianassidae and Phoxocephalidae. Within the peracarid , Asellota isopods are usually the dominant group in the deep sea. Nevertheless, in the same sample considered for this study, a smaller number of isopod species were identified, viz: 33 species (27 of these were asellotes). In the Argentine continental margin only 15 species of benthic amphipods had been recorded beyond 300 m depth, these preliminary results aim to improve the knowledge about amphipod biodiversity in the deep southwest Atlantic Ocean.

Post-Meeting Report from Ignacio Chiesa The 14th Deep Sea Biology Symposium (DSBS) was conducted during the week of 31 of August to 5 of September in Aveiro, Portugal. The conference was brilliantly organized, and it was a magnificent opportunity to meet researchers from all over the world related with the deep sea sciences. An astonished number of very interesting results (orals and posters), about the new tendencies in the study of the ecology, , phylogeny, geology, etc., of the deep sea, were presented. I had the opportunity to meet researchers that work with the same group as me, the amphipods. All these talks were very fruitful for me, and I look forward to collaborate with them in the future. Without any doubt, this symposium expanded my knowledge of deep-sea biology. Without the ISA/INDEEP bursary it would have been impossible for me to participate in the conference. I would like to thank to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and especially I am very grateful to Dr. Maria Baker and to Dr. Bhavani Narayanaswamy for all the help.

Macrobenthos response and sediment properties under hypoxia conditions at continental margin of central Chile

Eulogio H Soto*, Quiroga E, Ganga B

*Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Chile

Hypoxia and oxygen minimum zones are natural oceanographic disturbances that influence the structure and function of benthic communities. These forcings are expanding in the oceans as a consequence of global change. Therefore it is imperative to know the effect to the benthos by assessing its temporal response.

Seafloor macrobenthic assemblages off Valparaiso bay on the continental margin of central Chile, southeast Pacific Ocean, were studied from December 2012 to September 2013. Macrofauna was collected from two oceanographic sites using a modified van Veen grab (0,04m2) and sieved at 500µm. Biogeochemical properties of the sediment and bottom-water column were obtained by gravity corer, CTDO Seabird 19 and Niskin oceanographic bottle, respectively.

Faunal composition was characterized by higher diversity and abundance of small- bodied polychaetes with Cossura chilensis, Prionospio sp. and Aricidea pigmentata as dominant taxa. Bivalves and ophiuroids also were important. Mean abundance reached 3840 ind./m2 and biomass 65,7 g/m2. Richness varied between 9-40 species, diversity (H’) 2,5-3,3 bit, evenness (J’) 0,5-0,8 bit and dominance (Simpson) 0,6-0,8 bit. Ecological variables showed differences between sites. Abundance and biomass recorded a seasonal pattern with an increase at the end of period, while dominance also recorded seasonality but with low values in September 2013 (spring). Species richness increased with time and diversity and evenness did not show significant variability. Oxygen concentrations (ml/L) varied between 3,26 and 0,6 showing a decreasing pattern with time. A similar trend was observed for organic matter content (9.7-5.5 %) and mud percentage (48-22 %) in sediments. Particulate organic carbon in bottom water and sand percentage increased in time (0,7-6,8 mg/L and 21-77%, respectively). Redox potential (mean Eh:117 mV) and stables isotopes (mean δ13C:-23,5) showed variability without a clear temporal pattern. Deeper site recorded higher mean values for redox potential (Eh:132 mV), chlorophyll-a (1,8 mg/m3) and sand (60 %). Shallow site recorded maximum mean values for oxygen (1,8 ml/L), particulate organic carbon (4mg/L), mud (43 %), organic matter content (8,2 %) and stables isotopes (δ13C:-24). Principal components analyses and Spearmann correlations indicated that the benthic response would be mainly determined by the organic content of the sediments.

Post-Meeting Report from Eulogio Soto: I would like to thank the ISA Endowment Fund and INDEEP, and specially to Maria Baker and Bhavani Narayanaswamy, for the financial support provided for attending to 14th Deep-sea Biology Symposium in Aveiro, Portugal. The symposium enabled me to meet various people with common interests, and also offered me the opportunity to look into collaboration for supporting and developing deep-sea research in my country in the near future. The 14th DSBS was brilliantly organized, interesting and had an impressive attendance by renowned as well as early career scientists from all parts of the word. The financial support received from ISA was fundamental to my participation on this meeting. During the symposium, I had the opportunity to meet old friends, new scientists and to attend to several interesting talks on a broad number of themes from genetics and evolution of deep-sea organisms to challenges of ocean conservation and policy. In addition the symposium ended with discussion on special sessions and it provided an excellent platform for exchange of ideas and discussion with scientists working in similar fields. I hope ISA, INDEEP and others institutions may carry on supporting to scientists from developing countries. Thank very much indeed for the financial support.

Stakeholder participation to support offshore protection: Lessons from Africa

Kerry Sink*, McQuaid KA

* South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa

Developing countries have significant challenges in establishing the knowledge base, scientific resources and governance capacity to support wise management of deep-sea ecosystems. Engaging offshore industries can be an effective way to help address these challenges. The benefits of industry participation include valuable early stakeholder input in terms of objectives and approaches to improve offshore ecosystem management; contribution to environmental data bases; accurate mapping of stakeholder activity; opportunities for co-operative research, monitoring, management and conflict resolution. South Africa implemented an Offshore Biodiversity Initiative in 2007, focused on the development of a representative network of Offshore Marine Protected Areas and biodiversity mainstreaming with relevant marine production sectors. Both components required extensive and intensive stakeholder engagement and participation. In 2014, South Africa implemented a new initiative to unlock the ocean economy. The Marine Protection Services and Governance component of this initiative drew upon this previous work to fast-track further in-depth consultations about ocean governance, Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning. This work distils key lessons in working with the fishing, mining and petroleum sectors to advance protection of deep-sea ecosystems through increased knowledge, formal protected areas, good practice and stewardship. The importance of early and consistent engagement is highlighted and key elements in terms of attitude to stakeholders are shared. Methods to help secure participation and cultivate mutual understanding of constraints, challenges and opportunities are presented. These include the development of deep-sea user profiles, maps to reflect biodiversity and human use patterns, the establishment of stakeholder fora and systematic biodiversity planning. We experienced different responses between sectors and different role payers within sectors and found that participation must be secured at different scales, ranging from one-on-one consultations to broad, cross-sectorial engagements. Industry engagement is not without challenges and it is important to minimise risks, manage stakeholder expectations, ensure meaningful participation of industry, seek win-win solutions and maintain scientific independence and integrity. A dynamic and flexible process is advocated to advance the protection of deep-sea ecosystems in an emerging ocean economy.

Post-Meeting Report from Kerry Sink: Attending my first Deep-Sea Biology Symposium was an educational and inspirational experience that will shape future deep-sea research in South Africa. I could not have attended without sponsorship and this also enabled the leverage of other funding for some of my students and our ROV pilot to attend. Together we could share experience across sessions and build on efforts to establish a local deep-sea research team. We gained new insights in relevant science and policy, learnt a great deal about new technology and research methods, broadened our understanding of deepsea ecosystems and their functioning and fostered new research links. Many presentations and posters were relevant to current research in its early stages in South Africa, including work on ecosystem classification and mapping, the first survey of a potential chemosynthetic seep site, cruises to study canyon and cold water ecology, research on diversity, ocean acidification and molecular work to support taxonomy, connectivity and bio-discovery. I was particularly appreciative to share useful content to inform current decision making in the areas of deepsea mining, petroleum management and to learn more about co-operative research with industry in order to build the offshore knowledge base. The development of technical capacity is a priority in South Africa and this symposium provided a unique opportunity to learn from the failures and successes of the international community in this regard. It was a privilege to present South African work and valuable feedback and new links were enabled through this occasion. The conference provided important networking opportunities and we were able to develop new contacts with specialist taxonomists, technical experts willing to assist our efforts to advance into deeper water (through advice, collaboration and equipment loan!) and collaborations to support coral research and predictive habitat modelling. I would like to thank the logistical team for an exceptionally well organised meeting, the delegates for the high standard of work shared and the International Seabed Authority and INDEEP staff for the financial assistance that enabled the professional growth and networking opportunities provided. Deeply appreciated!

Abyssal polychaetes associated with enriched sediments around a whale carcass from Southwest Atlantic Ocean

Maurício Shimabukuro *, Alfaro-Lucas, JM, Rizzo, AE, Santos, CSG, Fujiwara, Y & Sumida, PYG * Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo – SP/Brasil

Large organic inputs, like sunken whale carcass, cause a substantial organic enrichment of deep-sea sediments, which can contribute to a turnover in community composition by increasing opportunistic and sulfophilic species. Three new species of polychaetes were found in sediments around a natural Antarctic Minke whale carcass in Southwest Atlantic Ocean at 4,204 m depth. A new species of eyeless Neanthes was found in anoxic sediments just beneath bones and intervertebral discs. This is the first report of Neanthes associated with a whale carcass. The new species resembles N. kermadeca (Kirkegaard, 1995) and N. abyssorum Hartman, 1967. Fields of ampharetid tubes were found in sediments around the skeleton. This species closely resembles the Grassleia, which has only been found in hydrothermal vents. Finally, a new species of Sphaerodoropsis was also found resembling S. anae Aguada & Rouse, 2006 from vents sites and S. sibuet Desbruyères, 1980 from bathyal areas of the North Atlantic. The organic enrichment of sediments by the whale carcass clearly provides a unique habitat for the new species of Neanthes and for the Ampharetidae that resembles the genus Grassleia. These species are abundant around the bones, but were not recorded in areas without the influence of the whale-fall.

New hesionid polychaetes from whalebones in deep Atlantic Ocean: potential connectivity between whale falls around the world

Maurício Shimabukuro *, Alfaro-Lucas, JM1, Rizzo, AE2, Fujiwara, Y3 & Sumida, PYG4

Since de discovery of the first chemosynthetic community associated with a whale carcass, many polychaetes have been reported inhabiting this ecosystem. However, almost all species have been described in the deep Pacific Ocean or in shallow regions of the North Sea and Southern Ocean. The deepest natural carcass found to date in Southwest Atlantic Ocean revealed several hesionid species. Two of them are similar to hesionids from Northeast Pacific whale falls and are proposed here as new species. The first is Hesiocaeca sp. nov. which differs from H. methanicola Desbruyères & Toulmond, 1998 by presence of a wrinkled facial tubercle. The total amount of noto- and neuroaciculae together with the size and position of the median antenna are diagnostic characters that separate the new species from other congeneric species. The second species, Vrijenhoekia sp. nov. is characterized by the absence of both a median antenna and a well-developed neuropodia in segment 3, and by the presence of a dorsal pair of glandular lip pad. Vrijenhoekia sp. nov. is the second species description for this genus, which was previously found only in a whale carcass at Monterey Canyon, California, USA. In addition, a new species of the genus Pleijelius was found inside bones, increasing the genera overlap records between whale and wood-fall communities. The present findings point out the resemblance of hesionid lineages between SW Atlantic and both the NE Pacific whale-falls and NW Atlantic wood-falls. Furthermore these organisms could be good models for future studies of connectivity/evolution in these communities.

Post-Meeting Report from Maurício Shimabukuro: The financial support received from ISA/INDEEP Endowment Fund Travel Bursary was fundamental for my participation in the 14th DSBS (Aveiro – Portugal). I presented two posters in the DSBS as first author (presented above) and more one poster as co- author (nº 344 presented by Joan Manel Alfaro-Lucas). All these communications is a joint effort between our lab (from Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo) and researchers from JAMSTEC. The participation on 14th DSBS was important to discuss our data and I had opportunity to meet researchers that work in different areas of deep sea. I’m doing my PhD on population connectivity of whale-fall fauna in the deep Southwest Atlantic basin. In DSBS two sections was very important for me: “Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning – vents, seeps and organic falls” and “Connectivity and biogeography”. Besides these special topics all presentations were interesting. I wish to acknowledge the financial support from ISA. I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Maria Baker for her help during the application process and for her willingness to clarify any doubts.

Methane seeps and oil exploration off the east coast of Trinidad and Tobago

Judith F. Gobin* and Diva J. Amon

* Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Trinidad and Tobago is the Caribbean’s southern-most island state located between 100- 110N and 600-610W. As the largest oil and natural gas producer in the Caribbean, the islands’ waters contain economically-important resources: crude oil reserves were estimated at 728 million barrels while natural gas reserves were 25.24 trillion cubic feet. Deep-water exploration by the oil and gas industry is currently underway with exploitation due to begin in the near future (2016). Despite this, Trinidad and Tobago’s deep sea remains largely unexplored scientifically.

East of Trinidad and Tobago, the subduction of the Atlantic Plate under the Caribbean Plate has resulted in an extensive accretionary prism. The tectonic compression of fluid- rich marine sediments during the subduction process has generated numerous mud volcanoes and cold seeps. During the 1980s, French scientists discovered extensive chemosynthetic communities associated with these features. Of these, El Pilar was the only site located within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Trinidad and Tobago, and was found to be inhabited by many previously-unknown species of seep fauna. In 2014, the E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with local scientists, visited previously-sampled as well as unexplored areas of the El Pilar site. Using the ROVs Hercules and Argus, enormous beds of Bathymodiolus mussels, alvinocarid shrimps, Lamellibrachia tubeworms, serpulid worms, amphipods and Pachycara fish were discovered around an area where active venting of methane was occurring. There were also numerous , bryozoans, Munidopsis squat lobsters, and crabs noted in peripheral areas of the seeps.

This presentation highlights these unique deep-sea habitats, the fauna inhabiting them, and the increases in the knowledge of the biodiversity of the islands. At the same time, recommendations are made for the protection of these deep -sea resources given the high levels of exploration activities. These include seeking international cooperation, wider stakeholder discussions and creating more appropriate environmental regulations - all towards developing deep-ocean stewardship for the area.

Post-Meeting Report from Judith Gobin:

The 14th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium (DSBS) which was held in Aveiro, Portugal (August 2015) was very successful having been extremely well organized by the DSBS Committee. I had the privilege to attend this meeting having secured financial support, in the form of a bursary from the International Seabed Authority (ISA). I am extremely grateful for this support which facilitated my being able to meet a number of top Deep Sea scientists and researchers from across the globe; at the same time I launched a new area of scientific research for myself .

During the week-long symposium, I had the opportunity to meet informally and sociably, with a number of scientists in whose areas of research I am interested. From these meetings and discourse, I was able to develop new research partnerships for example I will be collaborating with the SERPENT colleagues to develop a project proposal for Trinidad and Tobago. Coming from an island nation in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago) where there is much oil and gas exploration, the deep sea biodiversity here is poorly known. My attendance and participation at this meeting will definitely facilitate my addressing such issues!

I would therefore like to express my deepest gratitude to the ISA for the funding provided. Additionally, I wish to sincerely thank Dr. Maria Baker firstly for her warmth as well as her great enthusiasm and dedication in the administration of this bursary. This initiative will continue to assist not only early career scientists but even mid-career ones like myself! Thank you ISA!

Top predators of seamounts in the Easter Island Ecoregion Naiti Morales*, Easton EE, Gaymer CF *Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.

Remote oceanic islands usually possess high endemism and represent biodiversity hotspots that are important targets for conservation efforts. The Easter Island Ecoregion consists of two islands, Easter Island and Salas y Gómez Island, located at the most southeastern part of Polynesia, more than 3700 km from the coast of Chile. Even though they are considered the most isolated islands on Earth, historical overfishing is evident at Easter Island, where top predators and herbivores are nearly absent in shallow waters. Most surveys indicate the importance of conserving top predators in order to achieve healthy ecosystems; however, these species frequently are the most fished due to their high market prices providing strong economic incentives for commercial harvesting. The scientific research group “Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands” (ESMOI) aims to investigate the diversity and connectivity of top predators in the area because notable differences in shallower communities exist between Easter Island and the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park (MMHMP) around Salas y Gomez. In this study, we present data from DropCam video observations of the deep top predators observed at seamounts around the Easter Island Ecoregion. Here, we found 13 species that are categorized as top predators or piscivorous species. Even though the sampling depths were similar, comparison of the data from MMHMP and Easter Island show differences in top predator species composition with higher abundances at MMHMP, probably due to the fishing and other human activities near Easter Island. Our next step will be to determinate connectivity between the two islands.

Post-Meeting Report from Naiti Morales:

Thanks to INDEEP/ISA Endowment Fund Travel Bursary Award I was able to travel and to attend to the 14th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, held in Aveiro, Portugal. The INDEEP/ISA gave me the unique opportunity not only to meet the next generation of high level deep sea experts but above all, to meet world’s most renowned scientists in this area of research. After five days of presentations, posters and some really inspiring talks, I had the opportunity to have very interesting conversations about the projects of other participants and some very remarkable feedback on my project “Top predators of seamounts in the Easter Island Ecoregion”. As a PhD student, the symposium gave me the opportunity to build important international connections that could lay the foundation for future scientific and technical exchange and thus promote my project and my own professional development. Moreover, I could collect information about the latest technologies and research methods. These are essential for the establishment of my protocols and to guarantee the consistency of my studies with international standards of deep-sea biodiversity investigations. I am very thankful to INDEEP/ISA for the financial support and especially to Dr. Maria Baker and Dr. Bhavani Narayanaswamy for the constant help and guiding.