The overall purpose in the planned INDEMARES-AVILÉS 0912 survey is the study of the structure and dynamics of complex deep canyons ecosystems systems of Avilés. In this sense include activities to: - Geomorphological study of the continental shelf area next to header Avilés Canyon. Includes multibeam mapping and sediment samples. - Estimation of the spatial distribution of hard bottom habitats and their environmental characteristics. - Estimating the abundance and spatial distribution of rocky epibenthic communities and cold water coral reefs. - Dynamics and characteristics of water bodies in the axes of the cannyon.

The objective of the DOS MARES project is twofold. First, we aim at understanding the effects of the atmospheric teleconnections between the Cantabrian Sea and the north-western Mediterranean Sea, and their impacts on the deep ecosystem, both pelagic and benthic. Second, we want to know in which way the transfer of the signal from the external forcings towards the deep ecosystem controls the community structure and the population dynamics. Thus, in March 2012 we deployed 6 mooring lines equipped with sediment traps and currentmeters in the Avilés and Gaviera canyons and the slope. In September 2012 the moorings were successfully recovered and redeployed again, and during this cruise DOSMARES BIOCANT3 they have been finally recovered and the 1-year monitoring effort finalised. In addition, CTD profiling has been performed to characterise the biological and physical structure of the water column (including the acquisition of discrete water samples), multicorers have been obtained to characterise the geochemical properties of surface sediments, and a multinet used to obtain macro- and meso-zooplankton community structure. Overall, data will allow to characterize the external forcings and abiotic conditions in the Cantabrian Sea, and thus establish the links between abiotic conditions, populations and pelagic and benthopelagic resources.

The objective of the DOS MARES project is twofold. First, we aim at understanding the effects of the atmospheric teleconnections between the Cantabrian Sea and the north-western Mediterranean Sea, and their impacts on the deep ecosystem, both pelagic and benthic. Second, we want to know in which way the transfer of the signal from the external forcings towards the deep ecosystem controls the community structure and the population dynamics. Thus, in March 2012 we deployed 6 mooring lines equipped with sediment traps and currentmeters in the Avilés and Gaviera canyons and the slope. In September 2012 the moorings were successfully recovered and redeployed again, and during this cruise DOSMARES BIOCANT3 they have been finally recovered and the 1-year monitoring effort finalised. In addition, CTD profiling has been performed to characterise the biological and physical structure of the water column (including the acquisition of discrete water samples), multicorers have been obtained to characterise the geochemical properties of surface sediments, and a multinet used to obtain macro- and meso-zooplankton community structure. Overall, data will allow to characterize the external forcings and abiotic conditions in the Cantabrian Sea, and thus establish the links between abiotic conditions, populations and pelagic and benthopelagic resources.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The fertilization of phytoplankton by the Iberian upwelling is responsible for the production of ∼250,000 t year-1 of blue mussels in the Galician Rías. This amount represents 95% of the Spanish and 50% of the European production, respectively. This production is jeopardized every year by species from the genera Dinophysis and Pseudo-nitzschia, responsible for lengthy shellfish harvesting closures due to accumulation of diarrhetic (DSP) and amnesic (ASP) shellfish poisoning toxins, respectively, above regulatory levels. Previous studies in this region and others in Europe indicate that these species frequently aggregate forming “thin layers”. Less than five meters thick and up to several km in horizontal extension, these layers have important implications for the management of molluscan shellfish safety. Despite this, the frequency of occurrence of thin phytoplankton layers in the Galician Rías, and the role of mixing conditions in their formation and persistence remains unknown. This project combines field observations in the Galician Rías, time series analysis, and empirical and numerical modeling with the aim of 1) investigating the role of mixing on resource availability and phytoplankton bloom initiation, maintenance and dissipation, 2) describing the frequency and spatial distribution of thin layers of phytoplankton (TLP), and 3) investigating the mechanisms responsible for the formation of TLP.

The campaign is part of the BASEMAN project (Establishment of protocols and references for the analysis of microplastics in European waters) of the PCIN within the specific JPI-Oceans call. The main objective is collecting samples of microplastics in water and sediments for studies of the spatial and temporal distribution of associated pollutants, as well as to evaluate the differences between the different sampling systems. In each of the stations a CTD will be made to know the thermohaline conditions.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.