Workshop Intelligent Underwater Systems and technologies IPSIT 2010

(Inteligentni podvodni sustavi i tehnologije), Zagreb, April 15, 2010

Biological research of deep Adriatic benthos -

importance of new technologies
(Biološka istraživanja bentosa dubokog Jadrana -
važnost novih tehnologija)

Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli
Assistant Professor
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Division of Biology
What we consider as a deep sea in general? And in the Adriatic?

Jabuka Pit
(Pomo Pit,
Central
Adriatic Pit) South
275 m Adriatic
Pit
1233 m
My contact with the research of the deep sea:

• Marine caves in coastal zone with special hydrological characteristics –

bathyal enclaves

• Oceanographic expedition ARCO (AdRiatic COrals), December 2008 -

Research of deep sea communities in the South and Central Adriatic Sea
- EU Project Hermes, Italian research vessel Urania
- “Capo Missione” - Dr. sc. Marco Taviani,
Instituto di Scienze Marine, Bologna, Italia
- international multidisciplinary scientific crew
Planned:

Accomplished:
• Oceanographic expedition ARCADIA (SeARch of CorAl banks in the
MidDle AdrIAtic), March/April 2010 - Research of deep sea communities
in the South and Central Adriatic Sea
- EU Project Hermione, Italian research vessel Urania
- “Capo Missione” - Dr. sc. Marco Taviani, Instituto di Scienze Marine,
Bologna, Italia
- international multidisciplinary scientific crew
Planned:
Accomplished:
Methodology – collection of marine geophysical data (chirp and side scan
sonar profiles), ROV and seabottom samples, geopositioned video
recordings

Equipment (ARCO 2008):

• Positioning system (GPS Fugro)
• Depth-meter (Seabat 8160; 50 kHz)
• Computer programs for analysis and integration of obtained data
(PDS2000,2,3,2,43)
• Current-meter (SVP 25)
• Sub Bottom Profiler Datasonic Chirp II
• System for collecting seismic data SwanPro SW
• Side Scan Sonar Edge Tech 4200DF
• Van Veen Grab (60 kg)
• Gravitational cores
• Epibenthic and heavy dredges
• ROV-s Pollux II and Prometeo
• Rosette with water samplers (+ CTD recording)

Equipment (ARCADIA 2010):

• Generally the same with some small changes and two different ROV-s
Geophysical Laboratory
ARCO 2008
Sub Bottom Profiler Datasonic Chirp II
Side Scan Sonar Edge Tech 4200DF
Water samples and CTD measurement
 →

Van Veen Grab (60 kg)

←
Washing of grab samples:
- different fractions
- specially interesting shells of organisms
(marine, freshwater)
Gravitational cores
Dredges
 ARCO 2008

ROV Prometeo

ROV Pollux II
 ← ROV Prometeo

ROV Pollux II -
Jabuka Pit, 184 m →
depth
ArenaSub ROV ARCADIA 2010

← Bari Canyon, 400 m of depth

 ← Bari Canyon, 400 m of depth

Rim of South Adriatic Pit,

In front of Montenegro coast, →
437 m of depth
ARCADIA 2010
ISPRA ROV Team (Arcadia 2010)
Findings: ARCO 2008
In Jabuka Pit - Shallow buried cold-water
coral mounds (~15 cm mud cover):

Frame building scleractinians:

Lophelia pertusa
Madrepora oculata
Dendrophyllia cornigera *
Solitary corals
Caryophyllia smithii *
Desmophyllum dianthus

Together with molluscs shells from glacial age

boreal bivalves
Panopea norvegica
Pseudamussium peslutrae
gastropod Buccinum humphreysianum

Unusually big remains of octocoral Funiculina

quadrangularis
 Stony colonial corals
Lophelia pertusa
Madrepora oculata
Dendrophyllia cornigera

Stony solitary corals

Caryophyllia smithii
Desmophyllum dianthus
Bivalves: Panopea norvegica and
Pseudamussium peslutrae
Gastropod Buccinum humphreysianum
Funiculina quadrangularis
Living organisms
Specially interesting findings –
Dolina in front of Gargano peninsula
(depth on the bottom 70 m, rims on
the 50 m)
ARCADIA 2010

Super-dolina in
Central Adriatic in
front of Italian coast
 ARCADIA 2010

Horseshoe structure
in Jabuka Pit – gas
seepage area?

MANY NEW QUESTIONS AND MORE WORK TO FOLLOW!

Thank you for your attention!