114
Lisa A. LEVIN and Andrew J. GOODAY
Table 5.1
Major national and international research projects and programs in the Atlantic Ocean
Project
Dates
Study area
Purpose
EUROPE
Denmark
BIOFAR
1990
Slope SW of Faroes
Faunal survey
France
BIOGAS
1972–1974
1978–1981
Bay of Biscay
Comprehensive
environmental and faunal
survey, recolonisation
experiments, etc.
France
EUMELI
1989–1992
NW African margin
Comparison of faunas
under different organic
matter input regimes
Germany
BIOTRANS
BIO-C-FLUX
BIGSET
1984–1989
1989–1994
1996–1999
48º00–48º30ºN
19ºW
Benthic reaction to
organic matter flux
Germany
Sondersforschungsbereich
313
1985–1998
Greenland–Norwegian
Sea
Particle flux to seafloor
and its transformation
into paleoceanographic
record
The Netherlands
DORA
1984–1986
Porcupine Abyssal Plain
Effect of radioactive
waste dumping
UK
1972–present
Rockall Trough
Time series study of
macrofauna
UK
IOSDL Porcupine
Seabight programme
1977–1986
Porcupine Seabight
Survey of mega-, macro-,
meiofauna
European Union
(MAST I Framework)
‘Natural variability and
the prediction of change
in marine benthic
ecosystems’
1990–1993
NE Atlantic slope and
abyssal plains
Describing environmental
and biological variability
at different temporal and
spatial time scales;
investigating effects of
disturbance on benthos
European Union
(MAST II
Framework)
‘Community structure
and processes in the
deep-sea benthos’
1993–1996
Porcupine, Madeira, Cape
Verde Abyssal Plains
Comparison of benthic
communities disturbed by
phytodetritus with
undisturbed communities
European Union
(MAST III
Framework)
BENGAL: ‘High
resolution temporal and
spatial study of the
benthic biology and
geochemistry of a
north-eastern Atlantic
abyssal locality’
1996–1998
PAP
Flux through water
column and modification
of flux prior to
incorporation in
permanent record
European Union
(MAST II
Framework)
OMEX 1
1992–1996
Transects of continental
margin in Goban Spur
area
Physical, chemical and
biological processes at
ocean margins
controlling transport of
material from shelf into
deep sea
U.S.A.
Gay Head to Bermuda
Transect
1960s
Massachusetts to
Bermuda
Quantitative evaluation of
deep-sea macrofauna
(diversity/abundance)
continued on next page
Lisa A. LEVIN and Andrew J. GOODAY
Table 5.1
Major national and international research projects and programs in the Atlantic Ocean
Project
Dates
Study area
Purpose
EUROPE
Denmark
BIOFAR
1990
Slope SW of Faroes
Faunal survey
France
BIOGAS
1972–1974
1978–1981
Bay of Biscay
Comprehensive
environmental and faunal
survey, recolonisation
experiments, etc.
France
EUMELI
1989–1992
NW African margin
Comparison of faunas
under different organic
matter input regimes
Germany
BIOTRANS
BIO-C-FLUX
BIGSET
1984–1989
1989–1994
1996–1999
48º00–48º30ºN
19ºW
Benthic reaction to
organic matter flux
Germany
Sondersforschungsbereich
313
1985–1998
Greenland–Norwegian
Sea
Particle flux to seafloor
and its transformation
into paleoceanographic
record
The Netherlands
DORA
1984–1986
Porcupine Abyssal Plain
Effect of radioactive
waste dumping
UK
1972–present
Rockall Trough
Time series study of
macrofauna
UK
IOSDL Porcupine
Seabight programme
1977–1986
Porcupine Seabight
Survey of mega-, macro-,
meiofauna
European Union
(MAST I Framework)
‘Natural variability and
the prediction of change
in marine benthic
ecosystems’
1990–1993
NE Atlantic slope and
abyssal plains
Describing environmental
and biological variability
at different temporal and
spatial time scales;
investigating effects of
disturbance on benthos
European Union
(MAST II
Framework)
‘Community structure
and processes in the
deep-sea benthos’
1993–1996
Porcupine, Madeira, Cape
Verde Abyssal Plains
Comparison of benthic
communities disturbed by
phytodetritus with
undisturbed communities
European Union
(MAST III
Framework)
BENGAL: ‘High
resolution temporal and
spatial study of the
benthic biology and
geochemistry of a
north-eastern Atlantic
abyssal locality’
1996–1998
PAP
Flux through water
column and modification
of flux prior to
incorporation in
permanent record
European Union
(MAST II
Framework)
OMEX 1
1992–1996
Transects of continental
margin in Goban Spur
area
Physical, chemical and
biological processes at
ocean margins
controlling transport of
material from shelf into
deep sea
U.S.A.
Gay Head to Bermuda
Transect
1960s
Massachusetts to
Bermuda
Quantitative evaluation of
deep-sea macrofauna
(diversity/abundance)
continued on next page