Autun Purser

Autun Purser is a Senior Researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute's Department of Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology. His work focuses on deep-sea ecosystems, including cold-water corals, spatial analysis, and image-based research. He has contributed to the development of open-source marine camera systems like PlasPI and OFOBS, which enable long-term seabed observations. Purser's research integrates technology with ecological studies, addressing topics such as seabed litter distribution, benthic fauna dynamics, and the impact of human activities on deep-sea environments. He has participated in numerous expeditions, including those aboard the Polarstern, and published extensively on deep-sea ecology, marine technology, and conservation challenges.

Key Projects:

• Development of the Ocean Floor Observation and Bathymetry System (OFOBS)
• Studies on Central Arctic sponge grounds and Antarctic icefish colonies
• Analysis of marine litter in European and Pacific deep-sea regions

Research Interests:

• Cold-water coral ecosystems
• Deep-sea benthic fauna
• Imaging and spatial analysis techniques
• Impacts of human activities on marine environments

Publications Highlight:

• Recent work on sponge locomotion and Antarctic breeding colonies
• Contributions to bathymetric charting and nodule field studies