Sabine Gollner

I am investigating whether mining metals and minerals from the deep ocean threatens life in those areas. Companies want to extract the metals manganese and cobalt from nodules that lie on the deep-sea floor. These nodules are home to a lot of life, such as animals and fungi. I am testing whether these species could also live on clay nodules. If so, companies could replace the manganese nodules. I am also researching life around hot springs in the deep sea. There is increasing demand for minerals from these sources. Knowing what lives there is essential for establishing regulations for deep-sea mining.