On November 10, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, in amphitheater 9.1.1 (DEMaC), another edition of “Ocean Break,” a series of seminars related to marine research at CESAM, will take place.

This time, researcher Fábio Matos (CESAM/DBio) will address the theme “Connecting Dots: Ecological Modeling Tools Supporting Research and Conservation of Deep-Sea Ecosystems.”

The deep sea remains largely unexplored, and our understanding of its ecosystems is still limited. This lack of knowledge is partly due to the vastness and distance of the deep sea, as well as the complex interactions between numerous environmental factors and organism responses. However, ecological modeling can partially overcome these limitations and provide a comprehensive view of the processes that sustain deep-sea ecosystems. By incorporating biological information and the physical properties of the environment, ecological modeling facilitates the exploration of ideas and theories, helping to understand ecological patterns and predict ecosystem responses. In this presentation, we will explore different modeling approaches to study the potential habitat and connectivity of a cold-water coral species in the Mediterranean Sea, with the aim of supporting the conservation of the species at a regional level.

Entry is free for all interested parties.