Research Projects

Objective: To decipher the biogeochemical parameters which influence the spatial distribution of benthic biota in cold seep environment. To reconstruct paleo-methane expulsion events to assess the sustainability of deep reservoir and the gas plumbing system. Develop a “Magneto-mineralogical” tool for mapping active and paleo-cold seeps. Free gas plumbing system in cold seep. To investigate and compare the benthic faunal (macro and mega) structure between methane seep and non-seep areas by molecular characterization and endemism. To study morphological & physiological adaptations of selected metazoans. To elucidate the rate of methane and sulphide-oxidation, chemoautotrophic production, their diversity and environmental influence in cold seeps sediments and the associated dominant fauna.