Main description (English)

Here we present the activities and the preliminary results of the oceanographic campaign named SeaGMA2023 (09 March – 26 March 2023) on board R/V Dallaporta. The research cruise aimed at acquiring geochemical and microbiological samples at the seafloor of a maritime area of the southern Tyrrhenian sea. The key objective was to carry out a systematic sampling of bottom sediments and seawaters, on a regular grid. The sediment samples were collected using a Box Corer with an average stratigraphic depth of about 20 cm. The seawater samples were taken using a Niskin sampler, and represent specific depths of the water column in the corresponding sampling site. The operations on board allowed obtaining both solid and liquid samples to backup present-day conditions of the seabed and assess geochemical and microbiological properties, including meiofaunal assemblage, in the laboratory once off the board. On-board scientific activities include geological, stratigraphic and minerogenic evaluation, measurement of fundamental chemical parameters (pH, Eh, temperature) of the seawater, sub-sampling and samples preparation and conservation.