Projects

Conclusion

The structure of vent communities has been found to be relatively simple, exhibiting few trophic levels, low diversity and high biomass dominated by a few species. The latter have adopted a unique suite of physiological and structural adaptations to cope with the hypoxic, anoxic and sulphidic environment in which they thrive.

In the second project further research on the hydrothermal vents at Milos demonstrated how some bacterial life forms can survive in these areas because of their ability to use sulphide and methane as a source of chemical energy. There is a present a good deal of debate on the role of such bacteria in the creation of life. This is clearly another area in which much work remains to be done, especially in the unexplored Eastern Mediterranean hydrothermal vent areas.

4. Pelagic-Benthic coupling in the oligotrophic Cretan Sea (MAST II-CT94-0092-MTP)
   
   The CINCS project had as one of its major goals to record the diversity of environments and animal life in the Aegean Sea, down to a depth of 1500 m. To carry out the CINCS project, certain types of deepsea sampling devices were used, including the Bathysnap camera system, the Benthic Oxygen Lander System (BOLAS) and the manned submersible JAGO (operational depth 400m), which is equipped with two video systems and a still camera in addition to its two-man crew.

<< 8