{"id":5066,"date":"2016-06-20T10:58:39","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T09:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/?p=5066"},"modified":"2016-08-30T17:18:41","modified_gmt":"2016-08-30T16:18:41","slug":"biggest-ever-assessment-of-atlantic-deep-sea-ecosystems-gets-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/2016\/06\/20\/biggest-ever-assessment-of-atlantic-deep-sea-ecosystems-gets-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"Biggest ever assessment of Atlantic deep-sea ecosystems gets underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Atlas<\/a><\/p>\n

Marine Scotland scientists have been involved a number of collaborative deep sea projects<\/a> over the years but we’re delighted to be\u00a0involved in the new\u00a0ATLAS\u00a0<\/strong>Project\u00a0–\u00a0<\/strong>a research and innovation action funded under the EU\u2019s new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. The launch of ATLAS<\/strong> marks the beginning of an exciting series of expeditions involving at least 25 research cruises and hundreds of scientists from 10 European countries, the USA and Canada, working collaboratively to explore the depths of the Atlantic Ocean over the next four years.<\/p>\n

ATLAS<\/strong> Project Coordinator Professor J. Murray Roberts, from Heriot-Watt University, said: \u201cThe north Atlantic was the birthplace of deep-sea biology and the cradle of oceanography. It\u2019s the place we should know best, but it\u2019s only over the last 20 years that we\u2019ve uncovered just how varied and vulnerable the Atlantic\u2019s deep-sea habitats really are.\u201d<\/p>\n

ATLAS<\/strong> will strive to improve our understanding of the complexity of deep-sea ecosystems and to predict future shifts and vulnerabilities of these ecosystems and their associated species, including those that are new to science. To do this requires a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and an integrated approach to tackling the problem. Alongside traditional approaches, ATLAS<\/strong> scientists will explore modern molecular techniques, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing, to search water and sediment samples for known and undiscovered deep-sea species.<\/p>\n

As well as carrying out pioneering research and discovery, a major goal of ATLAS<\/strong> is to develop a scientific knowledge base that can inform the development of appropriate international policies to ensure deep-sea Atlantic resources are managed effectively. This will contribute to the European Commission\u2019s long-term \u201cBlue Growth\u201d strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. Seas and oceans are drivers for the European economy and have great potential for innovation and growth. The \u201cblue\u201d economy represents roughly 5.4 million jobs and generates a gross added value of almost \u20ac500 billion a year for Europe.<\/p>\n

ATLAS<\/strong> also intends to carry out outreach activities to raise awareness of the importance and vulnerability of the Atlantic ecosystem and the impact humans are having on the ocean environment. This will contribute to a major international effort for \u201cOcean Literacy\u201d to make all European citizens aware of the importance of the oceans on everyday life on Earth and what actions they can take to help protect them. Activities will include the development of deep sea education material, a travelling road show and a new interactive exhibition on the ocean at Dynamic Earth, a science centre in Edinburgh which receives over 220,000 visitors per year.<\/p>\n

Further Information<\/strong><\/p>\n