The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), located in the abyssal equatorial Pacific, has been subject to intensive international exploration for polymetallic nodule mining over the last four decades. Many studies have investigated the potential effects of mining on deep-sea ecosystems and highlighted the importance of defining environmental baseline conditions occurring at potential mining sites. However, current information on biodiversity and species distributions in the CCZ is still scarce and hampers the ability to effectively manage and reduce the potential impacts of mining activities. As part of the regulatory regimes adopted by the International Seabed Authority, concession holders are required to conduct an environmental impact assessment and gather baseline data on biodiversity and community structure in relation to their license areas. In the present study, we used an integrative molecular and morphological approach to assess species richness and genetic variation of deep-sea scavenging amphipods collected in two nodule-mining exploration areas (UK-1 and OMS-1 areas) and one Area of Particular Environmental Interest (APEI-6) in the eastern part of the CCZ. We analyzed the DNA sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of 645 specimens belonging to ten distinct morphospecies. Molecular data uncover potential cryptic diversity in two investigated species, morphologically identified as Paralicella caperesca Shulenberger & Barnard, 1976 and Valettietta cf. anacantha (Birstein & Vinogradov, 1963). Our study highlights the importance of using molecular tools in conjunction with traditional morphological methods for modern biodiversity assessment studies, particularly to evaluate morphologically similar individuals and incomplete specimens. The results of this study can help determine species identity and ranges, information which can feed into environmental management.

位于赤道太平洋赤道太平洋的克拉里昂-克利珀顿区（CCZ）在过去的四十年中一直受到国际社会对多金属结核开采的密集研究。许多研究调查了采矿对深海生态系统的潜在影响，并强调了定义潜在采矿场发生的环境基准条件的重要性。但是，目前关于CCZ中生物多样性和物种分布的信息仍然匮乏，并且阻碍了有效管理和减少采矿活动的潜在影响的能力。作为国际海底管理局采用的监管制度的一部分，特许权持有人必须进行环境影响评估，并收集有关其许可区域的生物多样性和社区结构的基准数据。在本研究中，我们使用综合的分子和形态学方法评估了在两个结核矿勘探区（UK-1和OMS-1区）和一个特殊环境区采集的深海清除两栖动物的物种丰富度和遗传变异。 CCZ东部地区的利益（APEI-6）。我们分析了属于十个不同形态物种的645个标本的细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I基因的DNA序列。分子数据揭示了两个被调查物种的潜在隐性多样性，在形态上被确定为 我们使用综合的分子和形态学方法评估了在两个结核矿勘探区（UK-1和OMS-1区）和一个特别环境关注区（APEI-6）中收集的深海清除水生动物的物种丰富度和遗传变异。 ）位于CCZ东部。我们分析了属于十个不同形态物种的645个标本的细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I基因的DNA序列。分子数据揭示了两个被调查物种的潜在隐性多样性，在形态上被确定为 我们使用综合的分子和形态学方法评估了在两个结核矿勘探区（UK-1和OMS-1区）和一个特别环境关注区（APEI-6）中收集的深海清除水生动物的物种丰富度和遗传变异。 ）位于CCZ东部。我们分析了属于十个不同形态物种的645个标本的细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I基因的DNA序列。分子数据揭示了两个被调查物种的潜在隐性多样性，在形态上被确定为墨西哥Paraleellaella caperesca Shulenberger和Barnard，1976年；Valettietta参见。anacantha（Birstein＆Vinogradov，1963）。我们的研究强调了将分子工具与传统形态学方法结合使用对于现代生物多样性评估研究的重要性，尤其是评估形态相似的个体和不完整的标本。这项研究的结果可以帮助确定物种的身份和范围，以及可以用于环境管理的信息。