ZME Science reported that a new study reports that hundreds of mollusk species live in the deep sea and about two-thirds of them could face extinction if the plans to mine the seabed continue as planned, a new study reports. The findings already triggered reactions, with 184 mollusk species living near hydrothermal vents added to the global list of threatened species.The seabed is home not only to a wide array of living organisms but also to vast amounts of commercially valuable minerals such as copper, nickel, and manganese. These are found in specific structures such as polymetallic nodules lying on the seafloor. Countries and companies are currently discussing mining these deep-sea environments and their resources, as demand for minerals grows and supply is becoming scarcer. From smartphones to electric vehicles, practically every tech device needs minerals for its manufacture, and some people are increasingly looking to the sea to find new sources of minerals.
ZME Science reported that a new study reports that hundreds of mollusk species live in the deep sea and about two-thirds of them could face extinction if the plans to mine the seabed continue as planned, a new study reports. The findings already triggered reactions, with 184 mollusk species living near hydrothermal vents added to the global list of threatened species.The seabed is home not only to a wide array of living organisms but also to vast amounts of commercially valuable minerals such as copper, nickel, and manganese. These are found in specific structures such as polymetallic nodules lying on the seafloor. Countries and companies are currently discussing mining these deep-sea environments and their resources, as demand for minerals grows and supply is becoming scarcer. From smartphones to electric vehicles, practically every tech device needs minerals for its manufacture, and some people are increasingly looking to the sea to find new sources of minerals.
