WG1 Palaeontology and biostratigraphy (Coordinators Dr. Basso, Italy; Prof. Chepalyga -- molluscs; Prof. Yanko-Hombach, Canada -- foraminifera; Prof. Pushkar, Russia and Dr.Marret, UK -- fossil algae)
- To collect available data on Late Quaternary molluscs, foraminifera and fossil algae in all the regions along the “Corridor”.
- To establish reference collection on molluscs, foraminifera and fossil algae.
- To develop regional high-resolution chronostratigraphical framework for the entire “Corridor” elaborating data on absolute age, bio- and ecostratigraphy.
WG2 Palynology (Coordinator Dr. Cordova, USA; Dr. Mudie, Canada)
- To collect available records on Late Quaternary palynology, palaeobotany, and vegetation change in all the regions along the “Corridor”.
- To collect pollen diagrams from the “Corridor”. Pollen diagrams will include sequences from sea bottom and lands surrounding the region.
- To create a GIS-based map and database with locations of all pollen sequences categorized by type (marine, lacustrine, or other) and time span. The database will also include sets of modern pollen data available in these regions.
- To make the GIS map and database accessible online. Users will be able to access information on location, depth, ages, dates, taxa involved, sedimentary environments, etc.
- To construct a GIS model of vegetation change by millennia for the region stretching from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caspian Sea. Vegetation data may be linked to sea level changes in this region.
WG3 Geophysics and sequence stratigraphy (Coordinator Prof. Aksu, Canada; Dr. Lericolais, France)
- To collect seismic profiles obtained in different regions of the “Corridor” and to correlate erosional and ravinement surfaces.
- To search of evidence for active tectonics.
- To analyse reflection terminations (erosional truncation, onlap, toplap, downlap) and of the sequence internal configurations (i.e., seismic facies) for identification of small-scale seismic units and their boundaries.
- Using regional geophysical field-based studies and coring to reconstruct and date ancient coastline/s.
- To correlate sequence stratigraphical and biostaratigraphical units to reconstruct level and salinity of the basins.
WG4 Sedimentology and mineralogy (Coordinator Dr. Sorokin, Russia; Dr. Kadurin, Ukraine)
- To collect, identify and correlate sediment fingerprints sensitive to sea-level change.
- To analyse information on clay minerals as indicators of the source areas and the palaeodepositional environment.
- To analysis information on different types of minerals in regard of their magnetic properties to reconstruct sea level change and coastline position.
- To use quantitative mineralogy of sediments for identification of arid and wet periods (e.g., Tamburini et al, 2003).
WG5 Geochemistry (Coordinators Drs. Spezzafferri, Tamburini, Switzerland, and Prof. Chivas, Australia)
- To collect and correlate available information on stable isotopes (18O and 13C) in mollusc’, foraminiferal shells and interstitial waters in all geographical regions of the “Corridor” to evaluate palaeotemperatures, variations in productivity, salinity, influence of waters from different sources (e.g., Mediterranean, Black Seas) in space and time.
- To collect and correlate available information on organic matter to quantify the total organic carbon in regard to sapropel formation.
WG6 Structural geology and active tectonics (Coordinators Prof. Ben Avraham, Israel; Dr. Koral, Turkey; Prof. Larchenkov, Ukraine, and Prof. Yilmaz, Turkey)
- To delineate effects of active tectonics on coastal changes.
- To assess active tectonic features and tectonic events and their influence on coastline/s migration.
- To contribute to the discrimination of the effects of active tectonics from those climatically-induced on coastal line changes.
WG7 Geomorphology (Coordinators Drs. Balabanov, Izmailov and Evsyukov, Russia)
- To delineate active features of morphotectonics (e.g. marine terraces, palaeowave cut platforms, hanging and displaced valleys) to study modern coastline and coastal basins, especially with regard to their depth and sediment fill.
- To prepare and correlate regional maps showing morphotectonic features of the region.
WG8 Paleoceanography and palaeoclimatology (Coordinators Prof. Arz, Germany; Prof. Batist, Belgium)
- To draw palaeoceanographic evolution in term of palaeotemperature, palaeosalinities, palaeoproductivity, circulation patterns and efficiency of gateways for given time-intervals
- To trace water masses evolution in space and time, to identify their possible sources.
- To reconstruct climate dynamics and trace evolution from wet to arid periods.
- To reconstruct palaeodepths and co-operate in the constructions of sea-level curves.
WG9 Archaeology (Coordinators Dr. Chabai, Ukraine; Prof. Samoilova, Ukraine; Prof. Özdogan, Turkey)
- To assess and correlate available information on human adaptation to environmental change.
- To create databases of archaeological artifacts thus far obtained from the “Corridor”.
- To determine perspective areas for search of new archaeological sites (on land and underwater).
WG10 Radiocarbon chronology (Coordinator Prof. Arslanov, Russia; Dr. Balabanov, Russia)
- To collect available 14C for studied time interval and to create databases of 14C assays thus far obtained from the “Corridor”.
- To perform additional 14C dating on existed and newly obtained material suitable for dating: a number of cores from the Manych Gateways and some archaeological sites. New datings will be subjected to interlaboratory comparison.
WG11 GIS-added mathematical modelling (Coordinators Prof. Alekseev, Russia; Prof. Kislov, Russia; Prof. Shukurov, UK; Prof. Stanev, Bulgaria)
- Mathematical modelling of human dispersal in the Mediterranean–Black Sea area during the last 30 ky.
- Mathematical modelling of the dispersal of the marine biota in the Mediterranean–Black Sea Corridor in the last 30 ky.
- Mathematical modeling of climate dynamics and dynamics of overflows.
- Mathematical modeling of air-sea exchange and ecosystems.
WG12 Geoinformation system (Coordinators Dr. Agarkov, Russia; Mr. Ken Wallace, Canada).
- To combine palaeontological, micropalaeontological, bibliographical, radiocarbon, sedimentological, palaeoceanographic data sets with cartographic background into unified constantly updated Geoinformation System.