IceAGE (Icelandic marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology).

• Applicant: Dr. Saskia Brix
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: from 2012 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 225390071

The international project IceAGE (Icelandic marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology) aims to observe and explain patterns of the marine benthic biodiversity around Iceland and adjacent marine regions. The sampling area is characterised by several local peculiarities like submarine ridges (geographical barriers) and influence of different water masses of different origin. This allows the analysis of factors influencing the distribution and migration of species as well as investigation of the background of biogeographic zonation. The IceAGE2 expedition is designed to fill gaps in the sampling grid started during IceAGE1. Enhanced focus lies on the ridge structure between Iceland and the Faroer Islands in the climatic sensitive region around Iceland. The IceAGE project combines scientific questions of modern taxonomy like pyhlogeography (population genetics and DNA barcoding) with ecological modeling of species distribution.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Iceland
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Jörundur Svavarsson