Spatio-temporal Impact assessment of Research Activities at Hydrothermal vents.

Objetivo

The deep sea is Earth’s largest ecosystem, yet remains one of its least explored. Within this realm, hydrothermal vents are unique environments with exceptional biodiversity hotspots. Despite their ecological significance, these fragile systems are increasingly exposed to human pressures (e.g. deep-sea mining, global change) . While the future threat of deep-sea mining is widely discussed, the first measurable human pressure today comes from scientific activities themselves, such as sampling and experimentation. Surprisingly, the associated impacts have never been systematically assessed. The SIRAH project aims to deliver the first comprehensive, quantitative evaluation of research-induced impacts on hydrothermal vents. Building on unparalleled 35-year datasets and leveraging the European EMSO-Azores observatory, SIRAH will integrate archived and new imagery surveys across active, inactive, and peripheral sites at the Lucky Strike Hydrothermal Field (Azores), building the most extensive ecological baseline ever assembled for a hydrothermal vent field. The project is structured around 3 objectives: (1) understand how communities have changed over time, (2) assess the environmental health of the system, and (3) develop a scalable, operational indicator of ecosystem health based on habitat complexity. Through cutting-edge 3D photogrammetry, advanced statistical modelling, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, SIRAH will be the first study reporting direct anthropogenic impacts in hydrothermal vents and will pioneer the use of habitat complexity as a monitoring tool in the deep-sea. The project will support marine protected area management and EU conservation strategies. Beyond scientific innovation, SIRAH will strengthen Europe’s leadership in deep-sea science, and foster dialogue between scientists, policymakers, and the society. Ultimately, SIRAH will transform our ability to predict, assess, and mitigate human impacts in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses.