03/24/2008

Associated Press

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is at the center of an international program studying cold-water coral ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Star-News of Wilmington reported Monday that scientists from Canada, Brazil, Europe and the U.S. recently gathered at the university to discuss the developing Trans-Atlantic Coral Ecosystem Studies project.

Leading scientist Murray Roberts of the Scottish Association of Marine Science will spend a year at the university to jump-start the program. And over the next two years, Roberts will lead exploration and research of coral ecosystems that he said can live at depths of 3,000 feet.

UNC-Wilmington associate research professor Steve Ross will be working closely with Roberts. Ross said such a program could attracting more projects and scientists.

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Information from: The Star-News, http://starnewsonline.com