The southern california borderland (SCB) hosts deep-water mineral deposits including phosphorites, femn crusts, and rare earth elements such as yttrium that are in high demand as fertilizers and for…

The southern california borderland (SCB) hosts deep-water mineral deposits including phosphorites, femn crusts, and rare earth elements such as yttrium that are in high demand as fertilizers and for use in electronics and green technologies. These mineral crusts provide unique habitats for diverse yet poorly characterized invertebrate and microbial communities. With a rising demand for access to deep-water mineral resources, there is a need to acquire baseline biodiversity measurements to establish tradeoffs associated with their exploitation. Importantly, these ecosystems hold undetermined biopharmaceutical potential that could drive innovations in biotechnology and advances for human health. This project proposes to assess the biodiversity and biopharmaceutical potential of benthic marine invertebrates and microorganisms associated with mineral-rich, deep-sea sites within the SCB by addressing the following aims: 1) generate baseline biodiversity surveys of sponges, corals, and MAC