Deep-sea corals form some of the least understood ecosystems in the marine environment and are under threat worldwide. They are found on continental shelves, in submarine canyons and seamounts, and on oceanic ridges, and can reach depths of over 3,000 metres in the coldest and darkest waters of the ocean. These marine invertebrates provide habitat structure, shelter and food for numerous associated species, but they are increasingly threatened many of the challenges involved in their conservation require urgent attention. How is global change affecting deep-sea corals? Is it possible to restore colonies affected by human activities? Are they vulnerable to biological invasions? What future technologies will enable us to access the corals inhabiting the most remote areas of the oceans?
The aims of the 9th International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals (9ISDSC ), which will take place from 2 to 5 November in the Paranymph Hall of the University of Barcelona's Historic Building, are to advance knowledge and address the major challenges posed by the study of the biology and ecology of these ecosystems, as well as their conservation and restoration. The symposium is being held for the first time in a Mediterranean city and is organized by experts Andrea Gori, from the UB's Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), and Covadonga Orejas, from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC).
Deep-sea corals in the Mediterranean are under threat
The 9ISDSC will begin on Monday 2 November at 9.00 a.m. with a lecture by expert Asako K. Matsumoto, from the Chiba Institute of Technology (Japan), on new species of deep-sea corals in the Indian Ocean and the Timor Passage. Taking a multidisciplinary and cross-cutting approach, the 9ISDSC will gather more than 250 participants from the fields of science - spanning various disciplines - art and the general public to raise awareness of these highly fragile and little-known ecosystems and to highlight the importance of their conservation. There will also be presentations on the diversity and distribution of deep-sea corals, the environmental factors determining their distribution, their biology and ecology, and their conservation. In addition, the latest research findings on deep-sea corals from across the globe - from polar to tropical ecosystems - will be presented, with a particular focus on the ecological status of these ecosystems in the Mediterranean.
