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RV Sonne SO306

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CoWIO

Cold-Water Corals in the West Indian Ocean

  • Expedition: 08. August - 09. September 2024
  • Port Louis (Mauritius) - Durban (South Africa)
  • West Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel)

Working Area

During RV SONNE expedition SO306 ("CoWIO"), we will investigate cold-water coral (CWC) occurrences in the West Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel) focusing on sites around the Comoros/Mayotte and along the east-African continental margin between Tanzania and South Africa. CWCs are known for the West Indian Ocean, but so far are largely unexplored, in particular compared to the widespread and well-studied Atlantic cold-water coral ecosystems. The few documented occurrences are based on historical oceanographic expeditions that report CWCs (Lophelia pertusa, Solenosmilia variabilis, dendrophylliid species) from seamount flanks, canyons and along steep continental slopes covering a depth range of 200-850 m. Recently, corals were also observed on the flanks of the Ruvuma canyon and at the border of Mozambique-Tanzania at depths of between 150-200 m. In addition, seismic surveys indicated coral mound-like structures in water depths between 350-600 m in the area of ​​the Ruvuma canyon and the Limpopo estuary.

Expedition SO306 aims to get first insight into the distribution, appearance and biodiversity of these so far largely unexplored cold-water coral ecosystems of the West Indian Ocean, and to identify the most important environmental forcing factors controlling their recent occurrence and their past development. The focus of the cruise is a detailed video‐based characterisation of the facies and fauna (JAGO/ROV), supplemented by an extensive sampling and monitoring programme. Following the identification of the relevant forcing factors (at present and in the past), the future regional development of these cold‐water coral ecosystems in times of Global Change will be assessed.

Logo SO306

C. Wienberg
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Organisation (MARUM)

Co-Proponents

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Info

Groups involved

  • MARUM, Uni Bremen
  • Senckenberg am Meer, WHV
  • GEOMAR, Kiel
  • DZMB, WHV
  • IUP, Uni Heidelberg
  • NIOZ, Texel, Netherlands
  • RSMAS, Miami USA
  • Ifremer, Brest, France
  • IMS-UDS, Zanzibar, Tansania
  • IIP, Maputo, Mozambique
  • UKZN, Durban, South Africa