LEME news
In the deep Gulf of Cadiz, more than 40 mud volcanoes lie between 200 m and 4000 m depth. Insted of lava, these volcanoes expel mud pushed up from deep sediments by methane gas. The exploration of the deep Gulf of Cadiz during the UNESCO/IOC Training-Through-Research (TTR) programme and the European Union project HERMES allowed the discovery of several new species, including two new species of siboglinid tubeworms. Siboglinids are tube-dwelling annelids that inhabit marine reducing habitats such as anoxic mud bottoms, seeps and hydrothermal vents. As adults, they lack a functional digestive system and rely on chemoautotrophic microbial endosymbionts
Spirobrachia tripeira sp. nov.
Like the other species of the genus Spirobrachia, the tentacles of Spirobrachia tripeira are arranged in a spiral crown with several turns but many other morphological features are unique and led to the description of a new species. Spirobrachia tripeira was found in the Porto mud volcano, at 3800 m depth and is the first species of the genus Spirobrachia to be found at mid-latitudes. Until now all the species of this genus were found at high latitudes, like the Bering Sea or the South Sandwich Trench.
Two new species of siboglinid tubeworms
Reference: Hilário A., Cunha M.R. (2008) On some frenulate species (Annelida: Polychaeta: Siboglinidae) from mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz (Northeast Atlantic). Scientia Marina, 72 (2): 361-371.
HERMES success makes EC’s top 40 FP6 projects
HERMES has been recognised by the European Commission as one of the top 40 most successful projects in the Framework Six programme. The recently-released publication, 'Research for Europe: A selection of EU success stories', features HERMES amongst 39 other highly successful research projects across the full range of disciplines funded under the EC's Framework 6 programme.
Responding to the accolade, Project Coordinator Prof. Philip Weaver of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (UK) said, "It is a great achievement to be included in the ‘top 40’ projects from FP6. We are in fact one of five projects selected from the 280 funded under the Global Change and Ecosystems research area. The project has succeeded because the large multidisciplinary team has worked together well and because we have broken new ground by bringing together scientists, policy makers, NGOs and industry to discuss and tackle major issues in the deep-ocean.
Responding to the accolade, Project Coordinator Prof. Philip Weaver of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (UK) said, "It is a great achievement to be included in the ‘top 40’ projects from FP6. We are in fact one of five projects selected from the 280 funded under the Global Change and Ecosystems research area. The project has succeeded because the large multidisciplinary team has worked together well and because we have broken new ground by bringing together scientists, policy makers, NGOs and industry to discuss and tackle major issues in the deep-ocean.
World Conference in Marine Biodiversity
Bobmarleya gadensis makes the news during the World Conference in Marine Biodiversity in Valencia. (more)
Bobmarleya gadensis gen. nov., sp. nov.
The unusual morphological features of the tentacles of this new species, that look like dread-locks, led to the creation of the new genus Bobmarleya. Bobmarleya gadensis was found in the Carlos Ribeiro mud volcano at 2200 m depth during the TTR16 cruise. With ROV Isis, during the RRS James Cook cruise in 2007 it was possible to have a closer look at this species’ habitat.