Research Progress in Area 3 方向 ( 三 ) 課題進展 149 Evolution of Novel Adaptations in Deep Sea Methane Seeps Prof. Julia Sigwart Senckenberg Research Institute & Queen’s University Belfast Abstract Tomographicreconstructionisapowerfultechnique to provide three-dimensional visualization of morphology, including internal anatomy, and enables new insights to morphological adaptive pathways. In this project, Prof. Sigwart will combine several techniques to create 3D models of deep sea invertebrates. Synchrotron x-ray micro-CT, and light and electron microscopy will be used to examine novel adaptations in cold seep endemic invertebrate species, and related lineages found in other reducing deep sea habitats such as organic falls (whale falls and sunken wood). The project will contribute the description of new species from the West Pacific as well as detailed examination of the evolution of known species to complement ongoing work on ecogenomics in deep sea methane enriched environments. Using these new high resolution datasets on the unique adaptations of cold seep endemic species, the project will reveal both the adaptive pathways and functional morphological constraints that have underpinned the evolution of cold seep ecosystems. Research Activities and Progress Due to theCovid-19pandemic, theproject research activities focused on: (I) specialisiation of cold seep macrofaunal, (II) microplastic pollution in deep-sea environments, (III) developing molecular tools to complement morpho-taxonomic studies. • Examined specimens and ROV photo and video data of worldwide records. • Produced new morphological and molecular barcode comparisons of similar species found at cold seeps, wood falls, and hydrothermal vents. • Analyzed sediment samples collected in 2019 by Sigwart from vent and seep areas in the East Scotia Ridge and Kemp Caldera in Antarctic waters. Key Findings • There is a single, cosmopolitan holothurian species that occurs worldwide and is opportunistically exploiting any available reducing habitats. • The Southern Ocean is a sink for microplastic pollution and has higher levels of contamination than other more heavily disturbed regions. • A new review article offers a five-point plan to support the role of fundamental, discoverydriven research at the foundation of the pipeline to novel drug discovery and pandemic preparedness, including solutions from deep sea environments. Research Output Publication 2 Trained personnel 4 Fig 1. Drug discovery
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