Biodiversity of deep-sea ecosystems
The acquisition of data at larger spatial and temporal scales (AUV acoustic/optical imagery, deep-sea observatories), the use of new sensors to improve organism identification (hyperspectral imaging), the exploration of species functional traits and metabolisms and the development of in situ experimentations should contribute to identify more precisely deep-sea biodiversity patterns and to determine their biotic and abiotic drivers. Several up-to-date technologies will be implemented, including the use of so-called "omics" tools that enable the systematic analysis of living organisms at the molecular level.
Our future research objectives within this theme will focus on the 4 following challenges:
- Evaluate the specific diversities of deep-sea ecosystems
- Assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of communities in relation to biotic and abiotic factors
- Identify functional traits and metabolisms of different deep-sea organisms
- Identify new sources of biotechnological molecules in the deep sea