Aim

The aim of FS Polarstern cruise PS101 was the exploration of the Karasik seamount and a close-by vent mount in the Gakkel ridge area regarding their geological, geochemical and biological features. Our aim on this cruise was sampling of the sponges that inhabit the Karasik seamount. We are going to analyze them in the framework of the Horizon 2020 SponGES project in collaboration with our partners in this project. The main tasks are to assess the diversity, the abundance and the distribution of the sponge species on the Karasik as well as the associated microbial consortia.

Project

March 2016 to February 2020

http://www.deepseasponges.org/

Location

The Karasik seamount is located in the Nansen basin in the central Arctic (87°N, 60°E).

Ports

Tromsö (Norway), Bremerhaven (Germany)

Date

September 9 – October 23, 2016

Chief-Scientist

Chief Scientist, AWI Bremerhaven: Antje Boetius

GEOMAR-staff on board: FB3-MI: Beate Slaby