Introduction

R/V Pelagia Cruise HERMIONE /CoralFISH

INTRODUCTION

The major goal of the cruise 64PE313 is to collect observational data and seabed samples for two EU-funded programs: HERMIONE and CoralFISH.� The HERMIONE project is focused on study of various hotspot ecosystems such as canyons (Whittard canyon) and cold water coral mounds (Belgica Mounds) whereas CoralFISH aims to study relationships between cold water coral ecosystems and fish. Both projects are so-called integrated projects funded by the European Union and comprise partners belonging to the major European marine institutions. Coordinating institutions are NOC (Southampton, UK) and National University Galway (Ireland), respectively. The shiptime for cruise 64PE313 in which representatives of Oceanlab (Aberdeen) and Irish Marine Institute participate, is provided by NIOZ. During the CoralFISH leg of the cruise to the Belgica Mounds, we intend to make estimates of fish abundance on and off coral mounds by means of under water video surveys, dredges, and baited video landers of NIOZ and Oceanlab (Aberdeen, UK). Boxcore samples will be collected on and off the coral mounds for determination of density, trophic status, and respiratory activity of the bottom fauna. These data will be used to construct a carbon flow model of coral and fish communities in cooperation with partners from NIOO (Yerseke, NL). During the second HERMIONE leg in the Whittard Canyon we plan to study relationships between seafloor morphology, particle transport near the canyon floor and the benthic fauna. For this purpose we will make use of Pelagia's multibeam system, a hopper camera system, and various types of benthic landers. Two BOBO bottom landers will be deployed in the canyon for a period of 1year to record near bed currents and particle fluxes. During the transit from Whittard to Lisbon we will finally recover 2 moorings which have been deployed in 2008 at 1900 and 3000 m depth near Galicia Bank off the Spanish coast. The moorings have recorded particle fluxes for the BIOFUN program (ESF) which deals with relationship between biodiversity and functioning of the community of animals inhabiting the deep-sea bottom.