SONNE SO234/1

R/V SONNE cruise SO234/1 continues the studies of the temporal and geochemical evolution of the Walvis Ridge conducted on SO233 (see there) and is broadened by biological studies of deep sea fish. The biological work will be carried out by the University of Tübingen and aims to get a better knowledge of adaptations of visual systems in mesopelagic animals to bioluminescence. SO234/1 is a training and capacity building cruise for students from southern Africa and Germany in the framework of the SPACES program (Science for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes), a cooperative research project initiated by the relevant ministries in Namibia, South Africa, Angola and Germany.