Obiettivo Overall objectives To assess the effect of hydrothermalism on the chemistry, production and biodiversity of the oligotrophic Sea of Crete. Specific objectives 1. To determine the extent of submarine venting, measure bacterial production and export, quantify geochemical fluxe and their modification by bacterial growth. Establish periodicity of venting, the role of episodic events due to storms and seismicity. 2. Measure the effects of naturally occurring excess nutrients anc CO2 on the photosynthetic rate of phytoplankton, benthic diatoms and cyanobacteria and on chemosynthesis by sulphur-oxidising bacteria. 3. Compare the diversity of bacteria and epifauna in venting and nonventing areas, estimate the importance of chemosynthesis compared wit photosynthesis in the food web. 4. To isolate, identify and characterise hyperthomophiles and halophiles with bioproduct potential. State of the Art Hydrothermal areas around Milos were examined as' part of previous MAST projects on production in areas of high sulphide, and methane concentrations. These studies showed that 35 km of seabed around this one island were hydrothermally active. Free CO2 flux was 1-4% of the global mid-ocean ridge flux. Areas of seabed were influenced by hydrothermal brine, of similar composition to that in the reservoir 1 km below. Mats of sulphur-oxidising bacteria, >lOOm across, overlay the seeps. Bacterial H2S oxidation lowered the pH to 2 and released high concentrations of phosphate. Additional phosphate, ammonia, silicate, and other nutrients were released by the venting of hydrothermal fluids and gases. Episodic events were noted, including earthquakes, white smoker activity and release of brines resulting in a bottom-hugging, submarine 'fog'. We propose to study the processess controlling fluxes at accessible shallow sites and relate these to parameters which can be measured on wider-scale surveys, such as bubble plume intensity, area of mid-water plumes and chemical tracers of hydrothermalism, e.g. Mn and CH4. Rates due to diffusion and to advection will be determined using bottom landers with micro-electrodes and recording fluid-flow meters. Studies at instrumented sites will be supplemented by spot measurements at a wider range of sites. Chemical fluxes will be related to heat flux. The role of periodic events will be studied using a seismometer network, tide and current meters and temperature loggers at a range of sites. Changes at instrumented sites will be observed by time lapse photography. The CO2 flux off Milos makes a natural laboratory for studying effects of CO2 on photosynthetic and chemosynthetic production. Microbial biodiversity will be determined by molecular taxonomy and halophytic and thermophilic species of bioproduct potential will be cultured. Epifaunal diversity will be examlned and related to chemcal and physical parameters. Campo scientifico natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologyseismologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds Programma(i) FP4-MAST 3 - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of marine science and technology, 1994-1998 Argomento(i) 010105 - Sedimentary processes in the deep sea, on the continental slope and on the shelf edge Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore UNIVERSITY OF WALES - BANGOR Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Askew Street LL59 5EY GWYNEDD Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (9) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto CHRISTIAN-ALBRECHTS UNIVERSITAET ZU KIEL Germania Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 1-9,Am Botanischen Garten 1-9 24118 KIEL Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Christian-Albrechts Universität Kiel Germania Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 1-3,Wischhofstraße 24148 Kiel Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Italia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 19100 La Spezia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato ITALIAN AGENCY FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Italia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Forte S. Teresa 19100 LA SPEZIA Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Max - Planck Institut for Marine Microbiology Germania Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 1,Fahrenheitstrasse 28359 Bremen Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS Grecia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Panepistimioupolis Ilissia 15784 ZOGRAPHOS, ATHENS Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS Danimarca Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 540,Ny Munkegade 540 8000 AARHUS C Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato University of Patras Grecia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo University Campus 26110 PATRAS Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Universität Karlsruhe (Technische Hochschule) Germania Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 12,Kaiserstrasse 76128 Karlsruhe Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato