Workpackage 2

Fate and toxicity of the sediment plume

Contributors

NIOZ, UAlgarve, MARUM, JUB, AWI, GEOMAR, MPI, BGR, CIIMAR, IPMA, RBINS, NIVA, NTNU, UDelft, IMAR, USOU, UGhent, UUtrecht

Goals and objectives

• Monitoring of sediment plume dispersal, plume sediment redeposition, and numerical modelling of near-field and far-field plume dynamics including particle aggregation processes

• Characterization of the physical and chemical properties of the plume in space and time using both, field data and ex-situ experiments (particle aggregation processes and fate, trace metal dynamics)

• Spatial and temporal quantification of the ecological effects of the sediment plume on benthic and planktonic fauna: tolerance to increased suspended particle concentration, physiological and ecotoxicological effects (e.g. bioaccumulation, biomarkers, toxicity bioassays), epigenetic alterations, shifts in coral and deep-water microbial assemblages, reproductive aspects and larvae viability