Only a small fraction of the global ridge system (~65000 km) and of the vast continental margin regions have been explored and their communities described. It is the aim of ChEss to improve the knowledge on the diversity, abundance and distribution of species from vents, seeps and other reducing habitats at a global scale, understanding the abiotic and biotic processes that shape and maintain these ecosystems and their biogeography.
Main ChEss Science Questions
* I. What are the species' relationships between different habitats: vents, seeps, whale falls, sunken wood and OMZs?
* II. What is the role of deep-water circulation and geographical barriers in gene flow and biogeography?
* III. What are the factors driving patterns of biodiversity in these habitats?
Objective 1. To create a centralised database
To create a centralised database, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090523105231/http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/chess/database/db_home.php ChEssBase], of deep-water vent, cold seep, whalefall and OMZ species. ChEssBase is a web-based database that incorporates archived and newly collected biological material. The database is geo- and bio-referenced. ChEssBase is available online and has been integrated with OBIS.
Objective 2. To develop a long-term field programme
To develop a long-term [https://web.archive.org/web/20090523110542/http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/chess/science/sci_field.php field programme] to locate potential vent and seep sites and continue research on whalefalls and OMZ sites. The field programme aims to explain the main gaps in our knowledge of the diversity, abundance and distribution of chemosynthetic species globally. A limited number of target areas have been selected where specific scientific questions relevant to biogeographical issues will be answered.
The target areas have been grouped into two categories. Category I, combined areas: Area A: Equatorial Atlantic Belt region; Area B: the SE Pacific region; Area C: NZ region; Area D: the Arctic and Antarctic regions, within the International Polar Year. Category II, specific areas: 1 – The ice-covered Gakkel Ridge, 2 – the (ultra)-slow ridges of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, 3 – the northern MAR between the Iceland and Azores hot-spots; 4 – the Brazilian continental margin, 5 – the East Scotia Ridge and Bransfield Strait, 6 – the SW Indian Ridge, 7 – the Central Indian Ridge.
During the field programme, ChEss will promote the development and refinement of deep-towed, remotely operated (ROV) and autonomous underwater (AUV) vehicle technologies to locate, map and sample new chemosynthetic systems. Using optical, chemical and acoustic techniques, ChEss researchers hope to gain a better understanding of not only biogeographical patterns, but to determine the processes driving these ecosystems.
During the field programme, ChEss will promote the development and refinement of deep-towed, remotely operated (ROV) and autonomous underwater (AUV) vehicle technologies to locate, map and sample new chemosynthetic systems. Using optical, chemical and acoustic techniques, ChEss researchers hope to gain a better understanding of not only biogeographical patterns, but to determine the processes driving these ecosystems.
Objective 3: Outreach and Education
ChEss has multi-lingual [https://web.archive.org/web/20081204112716/http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/chess/education/edu_home.php education pages] related to vents, seeps and whalefalls. There is a dedicated page for key outreach initiatives such as live cruise diaries, open days, schools activities etc.
ChEss has joined forces with the other deep-sea CoML projects and this has resulted in the creation of the DEep-Sea Education and Outreach group (DESEO) that has produced a book "Deeper than Light" published in 5 languages.