Project Information
Project name
DEEP IMPACT
Project full name
Dynamics and Ecosystem Effects of Dense-Water Processes in the Kerkira Kefalonya Valley: Impacts of Mediterranean and Pollutant Advection through the Ionian and Adriatic Connecting Transport
Disciplines (P08)
Biological oceanography
(DS01)
Chemical oceanography
(DS02)
Cross-discipline
(DS06)
Environment
(DS10)
Fisheries and aquaculture
(DS11)
Marine geology and Bathymetry
(DS04)
Physical oceanography
(DS03)
Summary incl. objectives
DEEP-IMPACT aims to study the deep-sea ecosystems in the Kerkira-Kephalonia valley in the Mediterranean, an area that has remained largely unexplored until now. Recent observations have shown that dense water from the northern Adriatic flows into the canyon, influencing the deep-sea environment and potentially transporting pollutants into these depths. To study this phenomenon, physical and biogeochemical measurements will be employed to track the movement of dense water masses and the dynamics of the deep-sea currents. Bathymetric data will be collected to map the detailed morphology of the canyon, providing crucial insights into its structure and enhancing our understanding of how physical processes such as mixing and upwelling impact the local marine environment. Pollutant analysis will focus on microplastics and contaminants in water, sediments and marine organisms to assess how pollutants are carried from coastal areas into the deep sea through dense water currents. Omics analyzes will play a key role in studying the biodiversity and functional potential of marine ecosystems, particularly in exploring the relationship between DNA in the coastal zone and the canyon. The study of benthic organisms will involve direct sampling and ROV inspections, yelding information about the composition of the faunal assemblage. In addition to benthic research, the project will also sample deep-sea fish macrofauna using specialized fish traps to examine species composition and potential changes driven by anthropogenic influences. By analyzing biological samples, we aim to uncover potential links between the genetic composition of organisms on the coast and those in the deep- sea ecosystem, offering valuable insights into the transfer of biological material and the impact of pollution on coastal environment. Collectively, these effort efforts will provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between physical, biological and anthropogenic factors in the deep sea.
Start Date
2026-09-05
End Date
2026-09-20
Lighthouse Region of interest
Mediterranean Sea
Keywords
Dense water cascading Submarine canyons Deep-sea ecosystems Adriatic–Ionian connectivity Marine contaminants eDNA
Researchers
Alexandros Varesis Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Andrea Gori Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, Barcelona University Antonis Kouloutzakis Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Diego Borme National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Dimitris Velaoras Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Francesco Tiralongo Isidoros Livanos Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Joachim Langeneck Salento University, Department of Science and Technology, Biology and Environment Leonidas Manousakis Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Mauro Celussi National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Pierre Marie Poulain National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Riccardo Martellucci National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Rocco Auriemma National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Ross Williamson Scottish Association for Marine Science Silvia Ceramicola National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, Division of Oceanography Tanya Zervoudaki Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography Timotej Turk Dermastia National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Tinkara Tinta National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station