Research Projects

The Deep-sea environments occupy more than 95 % of global biosphere and arecharacterized by variously specialized ecosystems which include nutrient-rich oxygen minimumzones in the water column and heterogeneous ecosystems such as coral reef, seamounts, spongebeds etc. in the benthic. The ecology and biogeochemistry of these systems are unique and theorganisms living are exposed to various extreme environmental conditions including depletedoxygen, low temperature, high pressure, and recalcitrant organic matter etc. The inhabitants ofthese ecosystems acquire various adaptations to survive in such harsh environments. Manyadaptations are mediated through microbial symbiosis through an evolutionary process oracquired from the local environmental regime. The present proposal is prepared based on adetailed analysis of datasets generated in previous programs on the existence of seamounts in theArabian Sea. In the present project, we aim at chemical and biochemical characterization of theseamounts in the deep sea environment along the eastern Arabian Sea. It is also envisaged tobarcoding the major fauna and their microbial symbionts using conventional and molecular tools.The study will also be focusing on the role of associated microorganisms in the remineralizationprocess, which will be assessed by measuring the enzyme expression profile of isolatedmicroorganisms under laboratory conditions. Overall the project will give an insight into thediversity and functioning of Seamounts, a benthic ecosystem, in the deep sea. This willsignificantly improve our current knowledge on these ecosystems which will help to derive policydecisions on conservation and sustainable utilization of these ecosystem