This study investigates the effectiveness of sediment restoration techniques in mitigating potential impacts of deep-sea mining on metazoan meiofaunal communities in the Clarion Clipperton Fraction Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean. A stainless-steel rake was employed using a ROV to create decompacted patches within the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR) exploration contract area, with sediment samples collected one month and three years postdecompaction. Abiotic analyses revealed short-term improvements in sediment characteristics, but limited success in restoring control conditions in the long term, particularly in total organic carbon (TOC) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios. Meiofaunal analysis identified nematodes as the dominant taxon, with significant differences observed in community composition and diversity between sampling depths. Despite short-term increases in meiofaunal abundance following decompaction, a decrease in meiofaunal diversity over time suggests potential long-term impacts on benthic communities even post restoration efforts. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and research to inform sustainable management practices and mitigate the environmental risks associated with deepsea mining.
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