Deep-Sea Biology Society

@dsbsoc.bsky.social

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Official account of the Deep-Sea Biology Society | #DSBSoc A society for student, academic & professional #DeepSea biologists. 🌊 🔗 dsbsoc.org 💡 @dsbsoc-arts.bsky.social‬ #DSBSocArts

[Image: Photo of Hiba holding a gorgonian colony.] "Hello, I’m Hiba, a marine scientist originally from Morocco. I am a PhD candidate at the University of Vigo, within the EcoAfrik research group. My research focuses on the biodiversity of gorgonians and combines taxonomic results with geomorphological, sedimentological and water-column data to characterize gorgonian communities and identify areas that may host Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems along the Moroccan continental margin. My work relies on an extensive collection of gorgonians, currently curated at the University of Vigo, together with valuable faunal and environmental data gathered between 2004 and 2022 by the EcoAfrik Project research team (IEO–UVIGO) from both the Moroccan shelf and continental slope. These data and specimens come from surveys carried out within the framework of Spanish Moroccan scientific cooperation focused on the exploration of deepsea demersal resources, as well as from surveys conducted under the FAO CCLME and EAF-Nansen projects."
The 2026 DSBSoc Seminar Series schedule: Seminar 1: Deep-sea coral reefs ecology and biodiversity. Tuesday, May 19th 2026, 12:00–13:40 UTC. Talk 1: From Basins to Seamounts: A Hierarchical Framework for Deep-Sea Community Structure, by Beatriz Mejía-Mercado (Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory). Talk 2: Exploring the Hidden Biodiversity of Deep-Sea Vertical Reefs in the Galápagos, by Manuja Hendawitharana (University of Barcelona). Seminar 2: Deep-sea sharks: trophic roles and sensory systems. Tuesday, August 25 2026, 09:00–10:40 UTC. Talk 1: The Impact of Fisheries on Deep-Sea Shark Trophodynamics, by Teah Burke (Deakin University). Talk 2: Investigations of the sensory ecology of deep-sea sharks in the genus Apristurus, by Molly McNamara-Langton (University of Exeter). Seminar 3: Abyssal/Hadal seafloor biodiversity. Tuesday, September 15th 2026, 12:00–13:40 UTC. Seminar 4: Physiology of deep-sea cnidarians. Tuesday, October 13th 2026, 10:00–11:40 UTC. Seminar 5: Microbes and symbiosis. Tuesday, November 10th 2026, 13:00–14:40 UTC. There is an image of a Keratoisis flexibilis octocoral.
1) Image of Beatriz Mejía-Mercado (dark hair, black t-shirt, smiling) outside on a research vessel with the caption: "Deep-sea communities are often described in terms of biodiversity patterns, yet the processes structuring these assemblages across spatial scales remain incompletely understood. In this talk, I synthesize my research on how deep-sea communities are organized across basin and seamount systems.”. 2) Image of Manuja Hendawitharana (dark hair, grey suit, smiling against a blue backdrop) with the caption: "Vertical cliff habitats in the deep sea represent structurally complex environments that support diverse communities. These steep and often overhanging surfaces provide unique ecological niches shaped by depth, substrate composition, and hydrodynamic conditions. This study aims to unravel the drivers for biodiversity in the deep waters by focusing on a first description of vertical wall megafaunal communities in the Galápagos."
Image of two Hymenodora glacialis shrimps as a backdrop, with the text: "Last call for 2026-27 mentorship. Exploring the deep? You don't have to do it alone. Join groups of other early-career deep-sea scientists and connect with experienced mentors online."
[Image: An image of the morphology of B. argentina, a small, dark-violet sea urchin, reaching ~2cm width & 1cm height (excl. spines)]. "The deep-sea accounts for more than 95% of the ocean’s volume, yet it remains the least explored habitat on Earth, hosting remarkable biodiversity & unique evolutionary processes. In a recent study, we describe Bathycidaris argentina, a new genus & species of cidaroid sea urchin from the SW Atlantic. This work was led by Jonathan Flores (IBIOMAR–CONICET), in collaboration with Martín Brogger (IBIOMAR–CONICET) and Mariano Martinez (MACN–CONICET), and published in The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. The species inhabits depths between 1,100 and 1,950m in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon. Its description is based on an integrative approach combining detailed morphological analyses with mitochondrial COI sequence data."
[Image: Crypthelia vascomarquesi fragment at 5 mm magnification.] "It was the summer of 2012 when the #DEEPFUN cruise lead RV Thalassa with the ROV Victor 6000 to the Menez Gwen Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition aimed to explore unfamiliar ground, never seen before in the 70 ROV dives of previous expeditions on the #MPA, around the hydrothermal vent field. Crypth'Hill was found 5 km away from the vents, with a brand new coral garden discovered between 832 and 856 m depth. This coral garden is unique because it is the first vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) formed by the genus Crypthelia found in the world. It is also the 16th stylasterid coral garden reported for the deep sea."
📸 WoRDSS, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 AltText: Text overlay over an image of a Phestilla melanobrachia nudibranch on Tubastrea coccinea coral. “We are hiring! The Deep-Sea Biology Society is looking for a part-time administrative researcher support consultant. Duties: Lead DSBSoc outreach & communications; Manage REDRESS partnership & financial claims; Support DSBSoc administration, trustee support, funding development. Skills: Experienced in financial claims & budget management; Strong administrative & organisational skills; Familiar with grant submissions & academic activities; Member of the marine science community Condition: Due to grant constraints the consultant must have a UK bank account. This is a ‘work from home’ consultancy position and not PAYE. Remuneration: Fixed rate of £589 (4 days p/m); Time-sheets of activities; Rolling 6-month contract. From 03/2026 - 01/2028. Due: Feb 28 2026. Please submit a one-page cover-letter & 2-page cv to president@dsbsoc.org.”
Overlay on a Metallogorgia melanotrichos coral. "ISDC9 (coming soon). Reminiscing over ISDC8 in Edinburgh? Early-bird registrations (May 9th) and abstract submissions (April 9th) are now open for the upcoming 9th International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals (ISDSC) in Barcelona! Supported by University of Barcelona, IEO/CSIC, IRBio & supported by ICES & DSBSoc, takes place 2-5 November 2026. Did you know: that 9ISDC will mark the 1st ISDC to be hosted in the Mediterranean Sea?"
Text overlay on a photograph of an Alvinella pompejana polychaete worm. Text: CBE8 (save the date). Enjoy CBE7 in São Paulo? Stay tuned for details on the upcoming 8th International Symposium On Chemosynthesis-Based Ecosystems (CBE) in the Azores archipelago! Location: Horta, Azores, Portugal; Hosts: University of the Azores/Institute of Marine Sciences OKEANOS; Date: 14-18 June 2027. Did you know that 2027 will mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of hydrothermal vents?
Poster with a Clione limacina pteropod with the text in a yellow block: "Sea more, learn more. The Deep-Sea Biology Society Seminar Series returns for 2026: Open call for seminar speakers."
“I am Severin, a PhD candidate at the University of Oldenburg and the HIFMB, in cooperation with Senckenberg am Meer in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. My scientific work focuses on the integrative systematics and taxonomy of deep sea and cold water octocorals, particularly the North Atlantic and Pacific genera Duva, Drifa, Pseudodrifa, and Gersemia." Photo1: Photo of Severin during the CoralNewZ expedition in NZ waters.
"I’m Ailish, a PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) and Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), working in partnership with Ifremer in France. I'm researching how habitat heterogeneity and the disturbance of habitat heterogeneity influence the diversity, abundance, and community composition of animals living on and in (yes, in!) polymetallic nodules. Polymetallic nodules are small deep-sea rocks that are full of minerals and metals that can be used in technologies ranging from electric vehicles to smartphones." 📸 Photo1: Ailish smiling looking off the side of a ship down at some dolphins. 📸 The photos include me with a nodule box core in the #CCZ, a view from the box core at the seafloor (~4000 m deep), a view from the ship, and some of the animals found inside of nodules (nematodes, tardigrades, and nauplii).
Multi-photo collage with photos from Issue 25 of DSL and a blurb resembling a smartphone reminder titled: "Reminder: Deep-Sea Life Issue 25 available now!" with "DIVE IN" as the option.
Image of a stuffed isopod facing a semi-frozen ocean. Text: Got places to be? We can help you get there. Application deadline for the 2025 DSBSoc Conference Support Awards is October 4th. Photograph credit: Johanna Weston, PhD.
Jethro baiting an abyssal amphipod trap aboard the RRS James Cook. Image credit: Ben Walker
3D modelling of reef structure using Structure from Motion photogrammetry from 2D reef images.
""Hi! I’m Gerrit, a biologist and computer nerd from Germany who traded reef dives for deep dives into data. I use images and algorithms to study life beneath the waves. From the coral reefs of Madagascar to the deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the Indian Ocean, I create digital models of underwater habitats. During my Master’s at the @Uni.Oldenburg, I used Structure from Motion photogrammetry to turn hundreds of reef photos into detailed 3D models. Now, four months into my PhD with the Indian Ocean Exploration (INDEX) project, I’m working with deep-sea videos collected by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). These show life around hydrothermal vents — also known as black smokers — which are underwater hot springs thousands of meters deep, where organisms convert chemicals into organic carbon, fueling unique ecosystems without needing sunlight." Gerrit Meiners wearing a red sweatshirt and sunglasses kneeling and holding sand.
I am Kurt Bryant Bacharo, currently a graduate student in the Molecular Invertebrate and Systematics Laboratory @miselab.bsky.social at the University of the Ryukyus. Prior to relocating to Japan, I finished my BS and MS degrees in Marine Biology at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines where I had the privilege to study the readily accessible shallow-water reefs in my country. Image: Kurt Bacharo smiling and wearing glasses, a white hard hat, flotation device and a DSBS17 shirt on the deck of the R/V Kaimei.
(Image: Shot of echinoderms being viewed with a dissecting scope.)
Hi everyone, I am Jonathan Flores, a postdoctoral researcher at the “Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos” (IBIOMAR, CCT CONICET-CENPAT, @ibiomar.conicet) in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. I study the fascinating world of #DeepSea sea urchins (Echinodermata: Echinoidea), focusing on their diversity, biogeography, and reproductive biology. (Image: Jonathan Flores standing on a coastline facing the camera wearing a black jacket and a red scarf.)
A composite image of multiple deep-sea images from Issue 24 of Deep-Sea Life. The caption reads: "Reminder: Deep-Sea Life Issue 24 available now!" as a phone notification.
An image of an orange antarcturid isopod with red eyes on a coral against a black background. The text reads: "Need a hand? We can help. Application deadline for the 2025 DSBSoc Research Support Awards is April 30th. Photograph credits: Emanuel Pereira, PhD (2023 Research Support Awardee)"
A deep-sea researcher is standing outside on the deck of a boat, smiling in a green hardhat, rain gear and blue latex gloves. She has a sea star laying in her outstretched palm. The deck of the ship is a dark green, and you can see the ocean on the horizon. Photographer credits: Morgan Trimble, PhD.
Photo of Javier Sellanes in the foreground wearing magnifying glasses and examining something with tweezers. Erin Easton is in the background wearing lab gloves and holding tweezers.
Photo of Erin Easton wearing bright blue lab gloves and holding up a sample to an overhead light, deep in thought. She is standing in front of a large screen with the text out of focus mentioning "ROV dive" and "CTD" in the text.
Split photo of Erin Easton taking notes in the Sealog on the lead scientist spot in the Mission Control Room. Javier Sellanes inspects a piece of coral in the Main Lab.. The text says "Congratulations Explorers!"
"I’m Flávia Masumoto. I am a master’s degree student at Oceanography at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. During my undergraduate studies, I joined the Laboratory of Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution of Fishes (DEEP Lab), coordinated by Prof. Dr. Marcelo Melo, where I still work today. I had the opportunity to participate in two expeditions of the DEEP-OCEAN project, whose main objective was to improve knowledge about deep-sea fishes in Brazilian waters, using bottom trawl nets and fish traps for sampling." (Image: Flávia grinning while holding some sort of puffer fish. She’s outside on a boat and wearing an orange safety vest while others behind her look off the side of the boat.)
"Nonny (Oenone) Scott is a PhD student at the University of Essex. She is working on larval dispersal models of octocorals in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean), with a goal to help improve our understanding of the connectivity of these vulnerable marine ecosystems. At the 17DSBS she presented two posters – one covering the larval dispersal work and her progress to date, and the other proposing a framework for working with hydrodynamic models in ecology and biology. She got her BSc in Biology, with a concentration in Marine Biology and minor in Environmental Science & Policy. From there she joined a start-up in the energy/ tech space. As one of the first employees her role was incredibly broad, and developed considerably over the three years she was there. Working in the tech space inspired her curiosity in coding, which lead to her seeking a masters in Computational Methods in Ecology & Conservation, which facilitated her move back into the marine space. Alongside computational work, Nonny is also really interested in science-policy overlaps, resource management and conservation, and outreach. When she isn’t doing her PhD, she is working for a freediving club, listening to who-dun-its, or trying to get to the sea! She is very appreciative to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community of deep-sea scientists, and is very grateful to the Deep Sea Biology Society for supporting and facilitating her in-person participating in the 17DSBS." (Image: Oenone “Nonny” Scott smiling and gesturing to her 17DSBS poster titled “A New Framework for Assessing Hydrodynamic Model Suitability for Biological and Ecological Studies")
"Furthermore, due to the amazing time series at PAP which goes back over 30 years, I am aiming to identify whether the relationships between body size and feeding niche are temporally stable. This is incredibly important as the amount of food reaching the abyssal seafloor if predicted to decrease (in this area) due to climate change, therefore we have to identify natural fluctuations in this trend if we want to monitor the state of the megafauna going forward. Preliminary results of this work can be seen on my poster at #17DSBS." (Image: View of a trawl being brought up on a vessel.)
"Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm currently a PhD student at the University of Liverpool in the UK. My research is focused on abyssal plain #FoodWebs, where I use the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) as my focus area." (Image: Lucy wearing a striped shirt and smiling with her back to the ocean. )
Image: Pedro and a group of collaborators surrounding a table in a laboratory setting and observing someone examine something (obscured).
"My name is Pedro A. Peres and I'm a postdoc at Florida International University (USA). My interests in science are related to using genomics to answer questions in ecology and evolution, currently focusing on deep-sea species." (Image: Pedro Peres grinning and holding up peace signs with both hands while wearing an eDNA sampler backpack.)
"Thanks to the DSBS conference travel award, I am attending the 17th DSBS with the poster ""Rissoid snails (Gastropoda: Rissoidae) from #Arctic CBEs"". Here I discuss their phylogenetic position within the family and highlight their distinct geographical distributions and species-habitat preferences." (Image: Brenda smiling with three other collaborators on the deck of a ship, all decked out with hard-hats.)
"I am a PhD student part of the CBE Arctic research team at the Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Deep Sea Research, University of Bergen, Norway @centredeepsea @unibergen." (Image: Brenda smiling in front of a body of water.)
"All animals, including deep corals, release DNA into their environments. This eDNA can be captured using Niskin sampling bottles mounted to ROVs. Captured eDNA is concentrated onto filters with microscopic pores and preserved for analysis in the lab." (Image: Luke handling a Niskin sampling bottle from an ROV alongside a collaborator. Image Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute; Photographer: Alex Ingle).
"Luke McCartin is a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Santiago Herrera’s lab at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, United States. He uses molecular tools to study the distribution of life on the deep seafloor and its evolution. At the Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, Luke will be presenting research that uses environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing to determine the diversity and distributions of deep corals. Using submersibles like remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Luke’s work involves collecting samples of corals and the seawater around them from the deep-sea floor for analysis. He compares sequences of DNA from the coral specimens and the eDNA that they release into seawater in order to determine the biodiversity of deep corals in the area." (Image: Luke McCartin grinning behind a laptop amongst collaborators: a number of screens with deep-sea footage are in the background. Image Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute; Photographer: Alex Ingle)
An coral photographed from inside the submersible Jiaolong.
Erika Gress grinning outside of a boat - the ocean is reflected in the windows behind her.
Heloísa standing behind a cart of fish specimens in a museum collection.
Deep-Sea Biology Society logo including text and marine creatures
Robotic arm holding a nautilus shell with an attached black coral (Hexapathes bikofskii).
Graphic with 17DSBS banner, with a zoom-in of the 17DSBS timeline showing the early bird registration deadline and a gold star that says 'AND Financial Aid Deadline!!!'.
Spiky rubble pile - 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒂 cf. 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒅𝒂 attached to 𝑹𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂 #copicsketch on paper/digital, 2023. #Iceland-Faroe Ridge, 440m.
Meet our artist Ivan Voltski (@ivanvoltski). His artwork "Sphere that binds No r 221" shows a monothalamous foraminifera from the North-West Pacific at 3300m collected. It is a graphite drawing on paper. The deep-sea foraminifera looks like a birds nest, with various size of grains forming a round structure, and some needle like structures in different sizes, piercing out of the sphere.
Artwork of tripod fish from previous post in the thread, with gold-coloured outline.
A blue card with the Deep-Sea Biology Society’s logo in the upper left corner, the gold-coloured words “MEET OUT ARTISTS and AUSTEN CAMILLE” at the top. On the lower part of the card, artwork of a deep-sea tripod fish with a white background. The tripod fish is depicted as viewed from the right side. It is slender, beige with a pointed, dark-grey head, with delicate projections extending from behind its gill plate, its pectoral fins and its caudal fin.
Header of the website for 17DSBS (https://17dsbs.hkust.edu.hk/).
Top left: Jeremy Horowitz on a boat, smiling happily and wearing a blue shirt with yellow writing. Top right: Ariane Buckenmeyer at sea, smiling happily, wearing glasses, an orange life jacket, a yellow toque and giving the hang loose hand gesture with both hands. Bottom left: Delphine Mestdagh smiling in a room with black and white walls, art displayed in black frames behind her and a book case, filled with books in the background. Delphine is wearing glasses, a white button-up shirt with a black tie and black vest. Bottom middle: Freya Hammar in a friendly pose, standing up on a boat, holding onto a metal handle. Freya is wearing sunglasses, a yellow- and white-striped, body suit with loose pant legs and buttons and a long yellow sweater. Bottom right: Lara Maleen Beckman smiling happily in the woods with ferns on the forest floor. Lara is wearing a fuzzy navy blue sweater.
Presentation slide with information on Task 6.1 REDRESS website.
Deep-Sea Biology Society trustee, Julia Sigwart, happily gathered with fellow members of the DSBSoc attending the REDRESS Kickoff Meeting.