R/V Kilo Moana BOEM Research Cruise

Oceanographic and geologic criteria indicate that abyssal manganese nodules may occur in the abyssal regions of the southeastern portion of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Hawaii, which has been largely unmapped and unexplored. The goals of this research project are to ground truth the occurrence of abyssal manganese nodules, determine what water column, seafloor, and sub- seafloor features exist in these abyssal regions, observe nodule distribution and abundance as well as the concomitant fauna, and collect physical samples of nodules, sediments, and biology. These data will help characterize the baseline geological and biological environment in this prospective abyssal nodule region and inform critical mineral and ecosystem resource potential. To complete this work, ship-based multibeam echosounder and backscatter data will be collectedin any regions of interest with mapping gaps. Box core equipment will be deployed at priorityregions to obtain physical sediment samples for geological (nodules, sediment composition,grain size) and biological (epifaunal and infaunal diversity, abundance, distribution as well asgenetic analysis) analyses. CTD will be cast close to box core locations to collect water samplesfor eDNA and basic nutrient analyses to complete the research data collection requirements. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.