ALONGate3_4 – A LONG-term observatory of the North Atlantic Gateway to the Arctic Ocean. Part 3 & 4: new LTER sites, deep-sea transects and Benthic Lander Observatory System (BLOS) Deployment and Recovery

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Saskia Brix
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Systematics and Morphology (Zoology)
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566749098

The expeditions ALONGate 3 and 4 applied for here serve two aspects of the ALONGate project (A Long-term observatory of the North Atlantic Gateway to the Arctic Ocean). The first aspect is the completion of longitudinal and latitudinal deep-sea transects through the working area. The east-west transect between the stations for deep-sea landers is an essential part of this application. The second aspect is the establishment of new long-term observatories (LTER) using benthic landers (Benthic Lander Observatory System: BLOS). In addition to the collection of biodiversity data and the operational use of the BLOS, the special feature of this application is the focus on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and the anthropogenic impacts of fishing on them. The deployment of the BLOS requires the help of a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). For this purpose, deployment dives are planned in 2026 with the GEOMAR ROV Phoca, and a further retrieval dives in 2027. Biodiversity data will be collected in all working areas. Standardization and comparability with the previous projects IceAGE and IceDivA (Icelandic Marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology) and the LTER "Hausgarten" of the Alfred Wegener Institute are particularly important, as is supplementing the data collected with the secondary user application for RV Polarstern 2025/26 and filling the data gaps. The ALONGate project has funding for personal costs, but not funds for ship time, large equipment (ROV) and logistics. These are included in this application for two years.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2520: Infrastructure area - Research Vessels
• International Connection: Iceland, United Kingdom
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Karl-Michael Werner
• Cooperation Partners: Privatdozentin Dr. Laurence De Clippele, Ph.D.; Dr. Katrin Linse; Dr. Stefán Àki Ragnarsson