Community Characteristics and Genetic Diversity of Macrobenthos in Haima Cold Seep

Knowledge about community structure and genetic diversity can help assess the potential for change in loss restoration of biodiversity, thereby facilitating effective management ecosystem protection. Macroinvertebrate communities are an important biotic component deep sea cold seep ecosystems. As Haima is increasingly being assessed its gas hydrate mineral wealth, knowledge characteristics macrobenthos needed to anticipate impacts on biodiversity. In this study, we examined species at five sites using a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) situ surveying. The results identified 12 macrobenthic from 5 phyla families. could be divided into two (H1 H2=mussel bed community, H3 H4= vesicomyid clams community) based CLUSTER NMDS analyses. Gigantidas haimaensis (Mollusca), Branchipolynoe pettiboneae (Annelida), Histampica (Echinodermata) were most dominant within their respective phyla, with values dominance 0.160, 0.021 0.114, respectively. these three typical was evaluated mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( COI ) gene, haplotype, nucleotide 0.651 0.912 0.00148 0.00812, respectively, representing high haplotype but low diversity. Finally, concatenated dataset (MCD) sequences genes ATP6 , NAD4 294,734 genome-wide single polymorphisms (SNPs) restriction site-associated DNA-sequencing (RAD-seq) data obtained 60 individuals H2), providing insight G. engineer seep. No significant differentiation between H1 H2 detected MCD sequences. Nevertheless, when SNP datasets, small clear subdivision as revealed by STRUCTURE principal analysis (PCA). comprehensively illuminate biodiversity provide baseline against which population dynamics may future.