UNIVERSITÄT POTSDAM
INSTITUT FÜR BIOCHEMIE UND BIOLOGIE
Universität Potsdam  PF 601553  14415 Potsdam
Dr. Elanor M. Bell
Ökologie / Ökosystemmodellierung
Institut für Biochemie & Biologie
Maulbeerallee 2
14469 Potsdam
Germany
Tel.:
+ 49 (0)331 977-1981
Fax:
+ 49 (0)331 977-1948
E-Mail: ebell@rz.uni-potsdam.de
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7 August 2006
Re: Invitation to submit an abstract for ASLO special session
Dear Colleague,
I am a co-PI on an EU-funded project entitled: ’Integrating new technologies for the study of
benthic ecosystem response to human activity: towards a Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory
(COBO)’. www.cobo.org.uk
I would like to draw to your attention the fact that COBO will be chairing a Special Session
entitled: ‘New technologies for the study of continental margin benthic ecosystems and
the need for benthic observatories’ (SS14) at the upcoming ASLO Open Sciences Meeting
in Santa Fe (4-9 February 2007). http://aslo.org/meetings.html Please refer to the session
abstract below.
I would encourage you to submit an abstract for our session directly to ASLO. The Call for
Papers is online http://www.aslo.org/santafe2007 and all ASLO members will also be
contacted by mail. The submission deadline is 3 October 2006.
In addition, please disseminate this information as widely as possible among your peers and
encourage them to submit abstracts. We endeavour to bring together interested parties from as
many fields as possible to stimulate lively debate, broaden our collective understanding of the
state of the art and foster future collaborations.
Please feel free to contact me ebell@rz.uni-potsdam.de or Dr. Christophe Rabouille
christophe.rabouille@lsce.cnrs-gif.fr if you require further information. We look forward to
receiving your contributions via ASLO and to a stimulating session.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Elanor Bell
SS14 abstract: Marine coastal ecosystems are among the most productive and diverse
communities on Earth and are of global importance to climate, nutrient budgets and primary
productivity. Continental margin sediments and their associated biota represent a reservoir for
biodiversity, and a key environment for carbon and nutrient recycling in the ocean. Yet, these
benthic ecosystems are compromised by human-induced stresses, including over-fishing,
habitat destruction and pollution, which compromise biodiversity, ecosystem stability and
biogeochemical processes. However, the relationship between tightly coupled biological and
geochemical processes on continental margins is poorly defined with respect to their temporal
and spatial variability, and human impacts.
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In this session, we propose to present and discuss recent technological developments that are
advancing our interdisciplinary, in situ observation and experimentation of this complex,
remote and poorly understood environment. Sediment imagery, microelectrodes, planar
optodes, manipulated benthic chambers, ‘smart’ data systems, advanced cable networks and
more, are enhancing our fundamental understanding of the interactions between benthic biota
and their environment and facilitating informed management of human impacts on coastal
ecosystems. In parallel, conceptual frameworks and communication tools are being developed
using visualisation software and sophisticated numerical tools to link scientific results with
environmental policy, measures and approaches. The session will discuss the current “state of
the art” as well as new initiatives in continental margin in situ observation and
experimentation.