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BIOdiversity and EcoSYStem Functioning of Deep Water Coral Reefs (BIOSYS) Postdoctoral Project – Conny Maier, funding: NWO-ALW)
Deep water coral reefs (DWCRs) are oceanic hot spots of biodiversity. Species diversity of all major types of organisms from prokaryotes to corals is assessed within BIOSYS and the EU project HERMES. Besides estimating for the first time the prokaryotic diversity in DWCRs, we investigate their role as food source in controlled aquarium studies.
It is still a mystery how DWCRs match their carbon and energy requirements. Comprehensive stable isotope analyses of corals, other suspension feeders and potential food sources will show, whether this mystery can be explained by a strong benthic pelagic coupling or by a link to chemoautotrophic prokaryotes. Benthic Landers will be deployed by members of the HERMES project to facilitate in situ studies of coral growth and calcification and for assessing ecosystem functions such as providing structural frameworks, community respiration and organic matter remineralization. The potential link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning will be investigated for DWCRs and compared between DWCRs in different areas.
	Participants of the 1st joint research cruise of HERMES (EU) and BIOSYS (NWO/ALW) to deep water coral reef sites at Rockall Trough and Porcupine Bight, NE Atlantic.
Present Student Project:   Coral Feeding Experiments Microbial abundance in ambient seawater, corals and sponges
Scientists from Royal NIOZ within BIOSYS and/or Deep Water Coral Research:   Conny Maier ,  Fleur van Duyl (BIO) Gerard Duineveld, Mark Lavaleye and Magda Bergman (MEE) Henk de Haas, Furu Mienis, Tjeerd van Weering (MCG)