Abyssal fauna of the UK-1 polymetallic nodule exploration area, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Mollusca

• Published in: ZooKeys Vol. 707; no. 707; pp. 1 - 46
• Main Authors: Wiklund, Helena, Taylor, John D., Dahlgren, Thomas G., Todt, Christiane, Ikebe, Chiho, Rabone, Muriel, Glover, Adrian G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 10.10.2017
• Subjects: Abyssal zone; Animal taxonomy; annelida; atlantic; basins; Bivalvia; Caudofoveata; Data collection; Data processing; deep; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Discovery and exploration; DNA; Ecology; Ekologi; Environmental impact; environmental surveys; evolution; fauna; Gastropoda; Genetic analysis; Identification and classification; Methods; Mineral exploration; mitochondrial; molecular systematics; Mollusca; Mollusks; Monoplacophora; Morphology; multiple sequence alignment; New records; New species; Nodules; Nomenclature; Ocean basins; Pacific Ocean; Phylogeny; Physical characteristics; Polyplacophora; regions; Scaphopoda; Solenogastres; Taxonomy; United Kingdom; Zoologi; Zoology; United Kingdom > UK; United Kingdom; Pacific Ocean; Bivalvia; Aplacophora; Polyplacophora; Scaphopoda; New species; Caudofoveata; Monoplacophora; Solenogastres
• ISSN: 1313-2989; 1313-2970; 1313-2970
• DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.707.13042

We present the first DNA taxonomy publication on abyssal Mollusca from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), central Pacific ocean, using material collected as part of the Abyssal Baseline (ABYSSLINE) environmental survey cruise 'AB01' to the UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) polymetallic-nodule exploration area 'UK-1' in the eastern CCZ. This is the third paper in a series to provide regional taxonomic data for a region that is undergoing intense deep-sea mineral exploration for high-grade polymetallic nodules. Taxonomic data are presented for 21 species from 42 records identified by a combination of morphological and genetic data, including molecular phylogenetic analyses. These included 3 heterodont bivalves, 5 protobranch bivalves, 4 pteriomorph bivalves, 1 caudofoveate, 1 monoplacophoran, 1 polyplacophoran, 4 scaphopods and 2 solenogastres. Gastropoda were recovered but will be the subject of a future study. Seven taxa matched published morphological descriptions for species with deep Pacific type localities, and our sequences provide the first genetic data for these taxa. One taxon morphologically matched a known cosmopolitan species but with a type locality in a different ocean basin and was assigned the open nomenclature ' ' as a precautionary approach in taxon assignments to avoid over-estimating species ranges. One taxon is here described as a new species, sp. n. For the remaining 12 taxa, we have determined them to be potentially new species, for which we make the raw data, imagery and vouchers available for future taxonomic study. 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.