iMAR: Integrated assessment of the distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Azores region

The iMAR cruise “The Integrated assessment of the distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) in the Azores region” took place aboard the Research Vessel Pelagia of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research between May 17th and June 2nd 2021. This expedition was funded by the SEA OCEANS program of Eurofleets+ and the H2020 European project iAtlantic, and was led by the University of the Azores (Portugal) in collaboration with the Hydrographic Institute and University of Porto (Portugal), the University of Aarhus (Denmark), the National Oceanography Center (United Kingdom), GEOMAR (Germany), the University Museum of Bergen (Norway), the PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (Russia), and the University of Vale do Itajaí (Brazil). We explored under-visited portions of the northern MAR in the Azores region and associated ridges and seamounts between 300 and 1,200 m depth: (1) South Chaucher, (2) unnamed seamount coded as D12, (3) the Kurchatov fracture zone area, including Isolado and D10 seamounts and ridges complex, (4) unnamed seamount West of Oscar seamount coded as D5, (5) the Gigante seamount and ridges complex, and (6) Cavala seamount. On most sampling locations, we collected multibeam data, CTD measurements, water and sediment samples, and tow camera transects to survey deep-sea coral and sponge communities. Water samples will be used for biodiversity analyses through eDNA methods and the characterization of water masses properties (nutrients and physical-chemical parameters). Sediment samples (collected at 1,000 m depth) will be used for biodiversity analyses through faunal studies and eDNA methods, microplastics, granulometry analyses, and physical-chemical studies.