Neptune Seminar Series | Marlene Pinheiro | 8 February | 12h

 

Title:

Ecotoxicology of deep sea environments

 

Name:

Marlene Pinheiro (CIIMAR-UP)

 

Abstract:

The deep sea embodies 65% of the Earth’s surface and the main characteristics are high pressure, low temperatures and limited or inexistent light. Despite the scarce studies due to inaccessibility, these ecosystems are considered highly biodiverse. The deep sea is impacted by anthropogenic pressures and recently, deep-sea mining has been identified as a potential new source of disturbance. Even though the consequences of deep-sea mining are still poorly known, one of the most likely effects is the creation of sediment plumes that threaten the surrounding environment. As access to deep-sea species is particularly difficult, the use of species like Mytilus galloprovincialis is a good alternative since this mussel species can withstand high pressures and be used in hyperbaric experiments. This study provides an insight into the functional and biochemical effects of suspended sediments in M. galloprovincialis under deep-sea conditions as a proxy to clarify the impacts of deep-sea mining in the aquatic environment.

 

The event is free but registration is mandatory to divulgacao@ciimar.up.pt.