Figure 76. Preliminary schematic summary of the direct effects of mining on the physical chemical environment at time zero and the relationships of changes in the environment to the marine biota. Interactions are not illustrated. See text (page 167) for discussion of "time zero" concept. The mining disturbance will have such a small effect on some components of the physical-chemical environment that the subsequent effects on the biota probably will be negligible; these components are indicated by a bar on the right-hand side of the respective box. zooplankton. Although it is not known what fraction of this dissolved organic matter may be refractory, present consensus is that it is largely. refractory, in which case it would have little effect. Pieces of benthic biota would be a food source, but are in such small amounts that their presence would have a negligible impact. Sediment concentrations may affect organism both physiologically and behaviorally. For example, sediment may interfere with respiratory and feeding appendages of zooplankton organisms, and undoubtedly the particles will be ingested. With fishes, respiration may be affected, but strong avoidance reactions could become important in minimizing potential adverse affects. Since sediment particles will probably contain finely abraded nodule material, ingestion by zooplankton could provide a mechanism whereby heavy metals readily enter the food chain. However, information on the size distribution of abraded nodules is unknown at this time, and the latter impact cannot be quantified. The activities of the biota are expected to have an effect on the fate of the discharge. One factor, ingestion of SPM by filter-feeding organisms, appears to be important. Incorporation of sediments into fecal pellets would in effect accelerate sinking velocities by orders of magnitude and may be an important mechanism in removing sediments from the upper water. Mining activity in the benthic zone will have very marked impacts both on the seafloor itself and in the overlying 20-50 m of water where the benthic effluent is discharged. The direct effects will be complete mortality of the benthic fauna within a mining area, caused by the passage of the collection device and the resultant formation of a benthic discharge plume. Also, the removal of nodules will eliminate some of the habitat of some organisms; the present state of knowledge of deep-sea biota is not adequate to allow prediction of rates of recolonization, although it appears that the rates are exceedingly slow. Sediments within the benthic discharge plume are expected to settle rapidly, yet impacts may be noted on the nepheloid layer and on the oxygen demand of the overlying waters. Actively swimming organisms will be attracted to the disturbance. 6. REFERENCES Amos, A. F., Garside, C., Haines, K. C., and Roels, 0. A., 1972: Effects of surface-discharged deep sea mining effluent. 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