Equipment

The Archipelagos team is committed to better understanding the abundance and distribution of protected Aegean habitats through the use of mapping techniques. This is carried out with the aim to support conservation efforts and aid protective management of these ecosystems. A range of  instruments are applied in order to achieve these goals.

Simrad EK80 High-precision echosounder

On board of the Aegean Explorer, we use this echosounder supplemented by the software Echoview to quantify and monitor the marine ecosystems. We rely on this technology primarily for mapping mesobenthic habitats and analyzing fish stocks.

Remotely Operated Vehichles (ROVs)

Our ROVs are equipped with high-definition cameras and other optional scientific instruments (e.g. laser scaler, grapper, USBL system) to capture detailed images and videos of underwater ecosystems up to 1000m, aiding in the assessment and monitoring of biodiversity in these environments.

Kayaks equipped with downscan sonars
Through the use of in-house developed algorithms to analyze the raw data collected by the downscan sonars mounted on kayaks, we are able to accurately map and monitor the distribution of seagrass beds in our coastal ecosystems.

Echosounders (multibeam, single beam)

On our research vessels, we deploy a range of echosounders for accurately collecting bathymteric data, and we are able to understand the structure of the seafloor.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)

By utilizing an ADCP, we are able to accurately measure the speed and direction of currents in the coastal regions surrounding our experiment site.

Drones

With different drones we are able to collect high-resolution data for our remote sensing teams to study the distribution of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems and analyse the impact of humans.

The Archipelagos team is committed to providing research and knowledge necessary for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Aegean Sea. This effort is carried out with the aim to bridge knowledge gaps and aid protective management of important ecosystems. A range of instruments are applied in order to achieve these goals.

Benthic Chambers

Underwater domes enable data collection serving research work examining the sequestration of blue carbon in Posidonia seagrass meadows. Domes are equipped with PME minidot data loggers used for quantifying oxygen production.

Environmental Condition Monitoring (temperature, light intensity, salinity, pH, transparency)

Applicable tools allow for environmental condition monitoring of survey sites. These instruments provide statistical contributions of biophysical data in numerous marine ecology studies.

Manta and Plankton nets

• Benthic chambers (PVC domes) + PME minidot data loggers (HOBO) for measuring oxygen production 
• Underwater temperature and light intensity loggers
• Temperature, salinity and pH meters & secchi disks
• Manta net (133μm)
• Plankton nets (200 μm)

The Archipelagos team is committed to contributing to research devoted to the protection of marine mammals in the Aegean Sea. The data collected is focused on providing a better understanding of the species populations and the respective threats they face. A range of equipment is utilised in order to achieve these goals.

Hydrophones

These underwater acoustic monitoring devices enable acoustic data collection in the Aegean Sea. A towed hydrophone array system, composed of four multi-frequency hydrophones, is used in combination with PAMGuard software to record and analyse underwater sounds, including marine mammal vocalisations. Deployed from one of Archipelagos’ research vessels, the towed hydrophone array system collects continuous data which can be used to gain estimates for cetacean abundance and distribution alongside bioacoustic studies. 

Aquarian AS-1 hydrophones are used to collect complementary data in shallower environments, and can be deployed from kayaks or in novel environments, such as fish farms. 

Camera and Video recorders

High quality cameras and video recording equipment enable data collection for behavioral and photo ID analysis. Used on boat-based surveys, digital-lens reflex cameras are essential for capturing focused images of dolphin dorsal fins and whale tail flukes, while video recordings of behaviours allow for deferred detailed analysis with Behavioural Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS).

• Towed Hydrophone Array System (340m cable – 4 channel) + PAMGuard software;
• Aquarian AS-1 hydrophone;
• Tascam recorder;
• Digital-lense reflex cameras
• Digital Videocamera HDR-CX240E

• Increment borer;
• Silva Clinomaster clinometers;
• Digital probes for Ph, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity;
• Geopacks flowmeter;
• Surber sampling net – 1 mm mesh;
• Laboratory mortar, sieves;
• vacuum pumps;
• KDI micro-viewer, model -501;
• monocular microscope x1000;
• monocular microscope x400;
• dissecting microscopes – (Essex University donation);
• HACH SC1500  State-of-the-art modular Cloud-based Multi-parameter Universal Controller;
• HACH 3798sc Immersion Digital Inductive Conductivity with integrated AD electronics;
• HACH pHD sc General Purpose Online Process differential pH Sensor;
• HACH LDO sc Dissolved oxygen Optical sensor seawater version;
• HACH HQ40d Multi portable meter with 30m heavy duty sensors for pH,temperature, conductivity, TDS, Salinity, D.Oxygen;
• HACH DR 3900 High-performance VIS spectrophotometer with RFID technology;
• HACH LT200 Thermostat for sample digestion;
• Hanna C99 multiparameter bench photometer;
• LaMotte smart spectrophotometer;
• digital arsenator (Wagtech);
• Kits for microbiological analysis (total coliform, E-Coli, IDEXX Water Microbiology);
• Thermolyne incubator type I42300;
• automatic heater for water bath, model CB 8300 (RESUN);
• UV lamp ZF- 7A Spectroline model CM-10;
• analogue spectrophotometers S104 WPA;
• light meter, EXTECH instruments 401025;
• pinpoint salinity monitor;
• Milwaukee MW600 dissolved oxygen meter;
• Martini Instruments portable pH/temperature meter;
• Membrane pH meter, HANNA HI 8314.
• Perkin Elmer atomic absorption spectrophotometer;
• autoclave;
• soil test kit, LaMotte AST-15

sampling at deep sea – up to 2000m water & sediment

Though Archipelagos focuses its efforts on marine conservation, our research extends to the protection of terrestrial biodiversity on the islands of the Aegean Sea. These efforts are carried out with the aim of conserving island ecosystems and some of their key species. The following equipment is used for our terrestrial surveys:

• Acoustic recorders are used to collect data on the vocalisations of different species, including golden jackals, owls, and songbirds. We deploy AudioMoths acoustic devices featuring smart detection.
• Camera traps are placed strategically to capture footage of terrestrial wildlife, including golden jackals, martens, weasels, wild boar, and others.
• Water quality probes allow for biochemical analysis of freshwater habitats on the islands.
• Light traps are implemented for the assessment of moth biodiversity.