CE10004 Species at the margins - diversity cruise

Box coring, multicoring, vertical plankton tows and CTD casts and ROV ops during daytime during marine research cruise on board Celtic Explorer. (1) To identify and map benthic macrofauna in slope and canyon regions using conventional cores and ROV surveys (2) To characterize the diversity and functional diversity of the bacterial community (with a focus on water column and sponge symbionts) at different depths. (3) To collect material for the preparation of extracts in the MI biodiscovery laboratory and to supply marine structures (sponges) for biomaterials testing. (4) To isolate bacteria from the water column and sponges and screen these extracts for bioactivity. This work will be accompanied by metagenomic screening to better understand the diversity and function of the entire (i.e. non-culturable) bacterial community. Hydrographic and related oceanographic information will be collected alongside the main aims of the cruise to gain a better understanding of the environment within canyons and on the slope. It is intended that the cruise will act as a catalyst for collating existing material on Irish deep deep-sea biodiversity in addition to making a large contribution to the knowledge of these communities. A formal link has been made with the Census of Marine Life and this will be used to promote the cruise and strengthen networks with the international community.