Project description
Understanding the ways deep sea coral maintain their reefs will support their protection
Cold water coral reefs are massive bioconstructions developing under complex interactions between deep-sea calcifying corals and the surrounding environment, with a biological richness comparable to that of shallow-water tropical coral reefs. They have a paramount role in maintaining high biodiversity in the deep ocean, and are considered vulnerable marine ecosystems severely endangered by human activities. The EU-funded HABISS project aims to quantify the multi-scale interactions between the geomorphology of cold water coral reefs and the surrounding hydrodynamics that regulates food and oxygen supplies for their growth and maintenance. Insight from pristine and human-impacted coral reefs will inform decision makers tasked with the implementation of environmental policies to protect the deep-sea, considered the most unknown and vulnerable ecosystem on our planet.
Objective
Cold water coral (CWC) are fragile biodiversity hotspots in the deep-sea and are recognized as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, heavily endangered by human activities (e.g. industrial fisheries, marine littering). HABISS proposes a multidisciplinary approach to study the interactive processes between the seafloor complexity of specific geo-forms (canyons, reefs) and the surrounding ceanographic/hydrodynamic paterns, and quantify the consequent maintainence mechanisms on CWC, both in pristine and human-impacted settings. These innovative studies (geology vs hydrodynamics vs. ecology), still relying on poor information, will be implemented across interconnected spatial scales, using from regional oceanographic data to in situ observations with cutting-edge seafloor observatories. Final outcomes will be ultimately delivered to support decision makers in the management of marine natural resources. HABISS will be carried out at the Marine Science Institute of the Spanish National Research Council, which together with two secondments will ensure high level training on integrated studies of hydro- and sedimentary dynamics, environmental advocacy, project management and transversal aspects within the European network. I will also provide training based on my skills on developing cross-cutting research topics, previously gained at the National Oceanography Centre (UK), a top-ranked European research institute. Specific dissemination and communication actions are planned in line with the public engagement policies of the EU Responsible Research and Innovation. HABISS will ensure the restart of my career, resuming my activities within the wide scale European network on Marine Sciences. At the end of the project, the acquired knowledge would re-enforce my scientific profile, further widening its multidisciplinary aspect. This would finally increase my chances for applying for permanent research positions and for funding within highly competitive European calls (e.g. ERC grants).
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Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain