Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity in the Deep Sea (EuroDEEP)

In this EUROCORES the following 9 funding agencies cooperate: Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands.

The topics are:

1. Biological characteristics and processes in the deep sea
   • Variation in metazoan biodiversity (species diversity, functional and food web diversity, niches) within and between habitats and ecosystems
   • Life history strategies and interconnectivity between deepsea habitats: physical and biological factors that drive/affect dispersal and gene flow (e.g. the stepping stone function).
   • Exploring the biodiversity of specific deep-sea habitats such as seamounts, deep-water coral reefs, vents, gas and fluid seeps, large organic inputs (e.g. wood or whale falls)
   • Understanding the biogeochemical pathways that sustain microbial systems and assessing the biodiversity of deep-sea microbes, their control and their possible interactions with metazoans.
   • Impact of microbial and animal biodiversity on energy flow through benthic deep-sea ecosystems.
   • Effects of climate change on deep-sea biodiversity.
2. Abiotic processes in deep-sea habitats driving biodiversity variation
   • Understanding the impacts of physics and biogeochemistry of the benthic boundary layer on the biology of benthic organisms in the deep sea: near-bottom hydrodynamics, organic matter deposition and re-suspension, early diagenesis
   • Understanding deep-ocean hydrodynamics and geochemistry in hot spot ecosystems as related to the distribution of organisms and communities
3. Human impacts and ecosystem Management
   • Evaluating the potential biodiversity and habitat loss caused by anthropogenic pressures such as fisheries, oil and gas exploitation, mining, dumping and CO2 sequestration in the deep-sea.
   • Assessing deep sea ecosystem vulnerability to disturbance.
   • Development of criteria for the establishment of deep sea marine protected areas.

When can be applied

Outline proposals could be submitted until 29 May 2006. Deadline for selected proposals was 20 September 2006.

Criteria

Conditions for NWO funding

• Total maximum available funding 600 k€
• Each Dutch scientist can submit only 1 application, ie cannot be involved with several projects
• Maximum 200 k€ contribution per project based on 3 funded projects
• Fixed salary fee of 172 k€ for Phd 4 yrs or Postdoc 3 yrs or also possible Postdoc 2 yrs 116 k€
• Fixed salary includes a benchfee for congres/symposia travel and overheads, so overheads cannot be applied for
• Equipment investment above 25 k€ up to max 110 k€ requires 25% matching by the scientists institute
• Consumables maximum 28.600 € or 9.100 € per year for postdoc.
• Maximum 1 person position per project funded
• Optional to spend maximum contribution on shiptime/investment and consumables without PhD or Postdoc.
• For shiptime RV Pelagia is prefered ship, contributions from other consortium members are welcome
• 1 sailing day for Pelagia on average costs 8000 € per day
• Negotiations about shiptime and technical support are to be organised through Royal NIOZ, if necessary shiptime can be exchanged though OFEG

Contacts

• Dr. Inge Jonckheere (Programme co-ordinator EuroDEEP)
  e-mail: eurodeep@esf.org
• Dhr. drs. R.M.L. Schorno (NWO representative)
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 08 37, fax: +31 (0)70 344 03 19, e-mail: r.schorno@nwo.nl