5th International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals 2012
Introduction
In the last decade the global presence of deep sea, cold-water corals in a range of ocean margin
settings has been established, and is still being expanded. Associated with the corals is the presence
of huge carbonate mound structures and deep sea reefs which contain unique records and a detailed
history of ambient ocean water conditions over periods of rapid climate change. The coral reefs and
mounds form very rich benthic habitats, of spectacular biodiversity, housing more coral species in
deep cold-waters than in tropical coral reefs. Because of their function as a nursery for commercially
important fisheries, in combination with increasing environmental pressures, the cold-water corals,
reefs and mounds are seriously threatened and management and policy making is a must.
The 5th International Deep Sea Coral Symposium addressed new developments and knowledge
through a range of themes and topics and took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 1-7 April,
2012.
Host and Support
ISDSC 5 was hosted and organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (Royal
NIOZ), with considerable support from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
and other European, American and international Organisations, as well as by sponsors.
We now can look back to a very successful Symposium.
Scope
The ISDSC has become the major conference for all aspects of cold-water coral research. Crossing
the boundaries between marine geology, biology, chemistry and physics, the meeting will address
key scientific issues such as ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, environmental forcing factors, coral
carbonate mound initiation, and their role in past and present biogeography, deep-water reef
development and diagenesis as well as more applied aspects including (potential) reservoir
capacities of carbonate mounds (under past and present constraints) and the effects of climate
change. All these issues casino promoties were discussed in a global context alongside dedicated science-policy
interface sessions outlining the most recent developments in management and conservation.
Background
ISDSC 5 was the Karamba casino fifth of a series of science-driven, non-commercial symposia concerning Deep Sea
Corals and Carbonate Mounds and Reefs, and follows upon earlier meetings in Halifax (Canada),
Erlangen (Germany), Miami (USA) and Wellington (New Zealand). ISDSC 5 was hosting the
workshops of ‘Identification of deep-sea corals from imagery data’.
The proceedings of
ISDSC5 will be published
in DSR II in January 2014
(Volume 99)
Video clip of ISDSC 5
LATEST NEWS
1-6 April 2012, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Image in the right top corner: USGS DISCOVRE 2008