Final Report Summary - EXOCET/D (Extreme ecosystems studies in the deep ocean: technological developments) The EXOCET/D project aimed to develop, implement and test specific technologies in order to explore, describe and quantify biodiversity in deep-sea fragmented habitats. Moreover, the project findings helped to identify links between community structure and environmental dynamics. Onboard experimental devices complemented the applied approach, since they enabled experiments on species' physiology. The targeted ecosystems were characterised by emission of reduced fluids, peculiar topographic structures, massive organic inputs and unpredictable events. In addition, they demonstrated patchy faunal distributions, unusual biological productivity, steep chemical and physical gradients, high perturbation levels and strong interactions between the organisms and the habitat. The increasing anthropogenic pressure on these poorly known systems highlighted the need for rapid technological development to enhance their understanding. The finalised proposals of EXOCET/D were demonstrated during a scientific cruise which performed sea trials and analysed the spatial and temporal dynamics of hydrothermal communities colonising active sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Thirteen prototype instruments, focusing on quantitative imaging, sampling and measurements, faunal sampling and in vivo experiments, were validated in-situ. Their evaluation allowed for the formulation of recommendations regarding their exploitation and future refinement. Moreover, the response of different hydrothermal species to their environment was observed both at a short-term and an observatory-type scale, which facilitated linking of faunal assemblages' dynamics to broader habitat variations. The cruise outcomes were highly successful and the validated equipment was subsequently utilised by similar research efforts. The project results were disseminated to the general public throughout the cruise via numerous media, including a day-to-day log book and reports to newspapers, radio and television shows. In addition, real time transmissions were realised and a movie was produced, to be presented in aquariums and conferences. Documentos relacionados Final Report - EXOCET/D (Extreme ecosystems studies in the deep ocean: technological developments)
