Deep Sea Biodiversity Under Climate Change: Contributions, Vulnerabilities and Conservation

This presentation will examine deep-ocean biodiversity with a climate lens.  High biodiversity in the deep sea emerges from evolutionary adaptations to a host of different environments in different ecosystems. Some deep-sea animals are pre-adapted to survive in environmental extremes - at low pH, low oxygen levels, in hot or cold water temperatures or with low food supply. This talk will examine how deep-sea environments are changing under climate change and assess both vulnerabilities and resistance potential of deep-sea species, communities and ecosystems. Deep-sea biodiversity underpins the carbon cycle, removing, transforming, transferring and sequestering carbon,  and thus keeps the planet habitable. These processes will be presented alongside threats to deep-sea biodiversity and its climate functions and services, from both climate change itself, ocean-based mitigation efforts to address climate change and resource extraction activities.  I will highlight what we know and the many scientific gaps in understanding that should be filled to address these climate challenges. Finally, a discussion of opportunities to promote climate resilience while conserving biodiversity will consider existing and new policy frameworks and treaties, their relation to sustainable development goals, and opportunities for deep-sea science to contribute to global policy.