Dr Furu Mienis

I study the carbon balance in the deep sea and the supply of carbon to it. There are approximately 6,000 deep canyons in the oceans, often as large as the Grand Canyon, for example. They connect the shallow, nutrient-rich sea with the deep sea. After heavy storms and fishing, a lot of dead material can quickly slide down the canyons into the deep sea. When it is buried there, it disappears from the carbon cycle. It can also be an important food source for animals in the deep sea. Deep-sea coral reefs are a hotspot of biodiversity: they provide a habitat for many other animals. I would like to find out exactly how these animals can obtain their food.