Protecting Deep-Sea Biodiversity
SOSA @ the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium!
From the ocean’s depths to the global spotlight, protecting deep-sea biodiversity takes a united effort! At the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, experts came together around the future of our deep ocean.
The Deep-Sea Biology Symposium brings together experts from around the world to share knowledge and ideas in support of the better protection of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems. This year the conference was hosted by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, in Hong Kong SAR, China.
Senckenberg and SOSA scientists inspired fellow conference attendees with a wide range of topics at the symposium:
- Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart presented on the importance of combining discovery, conservation, and awareness building in order to safeguard the biodiversity of our oceans.
- Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt reported on the incredible diversity of deep-sea invertebrates found in the Aleutian Trench.
- Dr. Torben Riehl presented insights about rocky seafloor biodiversity from the recent RUBBLE deep-sea expedition.
- Dr. Anne Helene Tandberg presented a poster on the importance of assessing the global extinction risk of animals that live exclusively on hydrothermal vents.
- Dr. Stephanie Kaiser gave a talk comparing phylogeographic patterns in deep-sea isopods from two major oceanic regions.
- PhD student, Henry Knauber, shared his research on how deep-sea trenches and ridges impact the distribution and differentiation of isopods in the North Pacific Ocean.
- PhD student, Andreas Kelch, shared his research on isopod diversity in North Pacific trenches.
- PhD student, Anchita Casaubon, presented a poster on the use of geometric morphometrics to differentiate deep-sea isopods.
- Master’s student, Dennis Klüh, presented a poster on taxonomically revising the isopod genus Nannoniscus based on morphology and genetics.
But the research all had a common message: the biodiversity of our oceans is immense, still being discovered, and worthy of being protected. Check out the images below for a visual recap of the Symposium!