In this dataset, we report the results of an aquaria experiment aiming at determining the impacts of Polymetallic sulfide (PMS) plumes of varying concentrations created by deep-sea mining on larval survival of the deep-sea coral Desmophyllum pertusum. Colonies of D. pertusum were collected in December 2022 and January 2023 at Tisler reef, at depths between 100-120 m. Adults were maintained in aquaria and after spawning, embryos were collected and left to develop to 7-day larvae. On day 7, larvae were exposed to four experimental treatments, recreating the potential effects of a PMS mining plume: two treatments contained PMS particles at concentrations of 2.5 mg/L and 5 mg/L respectively, and another two contained only the leachates of PMS particle solutions corresponding to the aforementioned PMS particle concentrations. Temperature was maintained at 8-8.5 °C and pHT at 8.01. Survival was checked by counting surviving larvae after 24h of exposure.
Experimental treatment, PMS2.5 PMS sediment with concentration 2.5 mg/L, PMS5 PMS sediment with concentration 5 mg/L, LCH2.5: leachates from PMS solution of 2.5 mg/L, LCH5: leachates from PMS solution of 5 mg/L