Dr Andrew Davies, University of Bangor - Unravelling the ‘virtual’ ecology of the last great wilderness on earth

The deep ocean is one of the most challenging and expensive habitats on earth to study. It requires an inter-disciplinary approach, that bridges across the main scientific disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology. Whilst the abiotic stressors of pressure, location and depth restrict what we physically can do, recent advancements have accelerated the field to a point where we are now on the precipice of being able to ask increasingly complex ecological questions in the deep ocean. In this presentation, I will review how our understanding of topographically complex ecosystems, ranging from geological features such as canyons through to biogenic reefs such as those formed by cold-water corals and sponges, has been shaped by novel approaches and technologies. Focussing on how deep-sea science is becoming increasingly ‘virtual’, I will show how 3D reconstructions of the seafloor and species distribution models have developed into vital and relatively accessible tools that can fill gaps in our understanding, particularly in data poor regions.