Project description
Saving cold-water-coral havens
In the deep recesses of Maltese waters, cold-water coral (CWC) mounds face a threat from human activities, notably bottom trawling. Particularly vulnerable are the recently discovered CWC mounds in mesophotic depths (30-150 m). Lacking scientific data, these habitats remain unprotected. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HopeWaves project will delve into the mysterious origins of these mounds. Using an interdisciplinary approach –geology, oceanography, and paleoecology – the project aims to assess distribution patterns, characterise water masses, and develop a paleoenvironmental model. By uncovering secrets buried in recent and ancient climates, HopeWaves paves the way for Marine Protected Areas, ensuring a lifeline for these delicate ecosystems through high-level training and knowledge transfer.
Objective
Cold-water-coral (CWC) habitats are sensitive biodiversity hotspots under severe threat from human activities, such as bottom trawling. This is particularly true for the CWC mounds that are recently discovered in mesophotic depths (30-150 m) of Maltese waters in the central Mediterranean. The origin of these CWC mounds is still unknown, and due to the lack of scientific data, these habitats are still not protected. HopeWaves aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mesophotic CWC mounds in SE Maltese waters, which is essential for planning and enforcing new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) networks. HopeWaves proposes an interdisciplinary approach (geology, oceanography, and paleoecology) to investigate the factors controlling the development of these structures in recent and past climates, including the role of internal waves and tides (IWs). The specific objectives of this project are: 1) to assess the distribution pattern of recent mesophotic mounds and their associated communities; 2) to determine the characteristics of water masses around the mesophotic mounds to define the possible depth of IWs; and (3) to develop a paleoenvironmental model for fossil mesophotic communities that were formed under a warmer-than-present climate during the Oligocene and the role of IWs in their formation. Specific planned dissemination and communication activities are in line with public and policy-makers engagement. HopeWaves will be carried out at the Department of Geosciences, the University of Malta, which, together with two secondments, will ensure high-level training on seafloor mapping, oceanographic data analysis, grant writing and project management. The fellow will also transfer her knowledge in the field of carbonate sedimentology to the host by contributing to teaching and mentoring activities. This project will increase the fellow chance of having a permanent position in EU universities, marine and oceanic institutes, and centres dealing with coral reef research.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology sedimentology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences palaeontology paleoecology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences oceanography
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
MSD 2080 MSIDA
Malta
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.