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Polar
microbiology
Within the polar research community in Bergen, there are
several plans for proposals that will be submitted to the International Polar
Year (IPY). In microbiology, the project PAME-nor is planning to coordinate a
large international undertaking covering biogeochemistry, microbial
population ecology and plankton dynamics in polar waters. We anticipate field
work in Svalbard, using mesocosm experiments and water from the Kongsfjorden
(Ny Ålesund) area, and cruises in the Polar Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
R/V Polarbjørn frozen in ice in 1993
The international partners so far identified are:
Name Institution
Corbeil, Jacques Faculté
de Médecine, Université Laval
Lovejoy, Connie Université
Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Vincent, Warwick F. Université
Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Mohn, William University
of British Columbia
Suttle, Curtis A. University
of British Columbia
Suttle, Curtis A. University
of British Columbia
Jacobsen, Carsten Suhr Geological
Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Nielsen, Torkel Gissel National
Environmental Research Institute
Stougaard, Peter The
Royal Veterinary and Agriculture University
Kühl, Michael University
of Copenhagen
Middelboe, Mathias University
of Copenhagen
Priemé, Anders University
of Copenhagen
Bouvier, Thierry CNRS
UMR 5119 University Montpellier 2
Fouilland, Eric CNRS UMR 5119 University
Montpellier 2
Mostajir, Behzad CNRS
UMR 5119 University Montpellier 2
Vidussi, Franchesca CNRS
UMR 5119 University Montpellier 2
Weinbauer, Marcus CNRS,
Villefranche sur Mer
Wiencke, Christian AWI
Bremerhaven
Bischof,
Kai IPO Kiel
Simon, Meinhard University
of Oldenburg
Azzaro, Filippo CNR
– I.A.M.C. Messina
Azzaro, Maurizio CNR
– I.A.M.C. Messina
La
Ferla, Rosabruna CNR –
I.A.M.C. Messina
Monticelli, Luis Salvador CNR
– I.A.M.C. Messina
Ravaioli, Mariangela CNR
– I.S.MAR. Bologna
Catalano, Giulio CNR
– I.S.MAR. Trieste
Hegseth, Else Norwegian
Fishery College
Bratbak, Gunnar The
University of Bergen
Børsheim, K. Yngve The
University of Bergen
Heldal, Mikal The
University of Bergen
Thingstad, T. Frede The
University of Bergen
Sazhin, Andrey P.
P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
Pedros-Alio, Carlos Institut
de Ciències del Mar
Hagström, Åke The
University of Kalmar
Wängberg, Sten-Åke University
of Gotebørg
Brussaard, Corina Royal
Netherlands Institute of Oceanography
Herndl, Gerhard Royal
Netherlands Institute of Oceanography
Bolhuis, Henk University
of Groningen
Buma, Anita University
of Groningen
van de Poll, Willem University
of Groningen
Pearce, David A. British
Antarctic Survey
Wilson, Willie Plymouth
Marine Laboratory
Davidson, Keith Scottish
Association for Marine Science
Green, David Scottish
Association for Marine Science
Hatton, Aangela Scottish
Association for Marine Science
Leakey, Ray Scottish
Association for Marine Science
DiTullio, Giacomo (Jack) Grice
Marine labs / College of Charleston
Sherr, Evelyn & Barry Oregon
State University
Kirchman, David University
of Delaware
Wilhelm,
Steven W. University
of Tennessee
Jeffrey, Wade. H. University
of West Florida
PROPOSER DETAILS
Prof Gunnar Bratbak
Jahnebakken 5
B.P. 7800
Bergen
NO-5020
Norway
Tel: +47 55 58 26 58
Mobile: +47 97 01 87 91
Fax: +47 55 58 96 71
Other
project members and their affiliation
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Name
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Affiliation
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Tron
Frede Thingstad
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The
University of Bergen, Department of Biology
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Mikal
Heldal
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The
University of Bergen, Department of Biology
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Knut Yngve Børsheim
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The
University of Bergen, Department of Biology
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Professor Åke Hagström.
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The
University of Kalmar, Sweden
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Professor Torkel Gissel Nielsen
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National
Research Institute, Department of Marine Ecology, Roskilde, Denmark.
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Copy of the letter of intention to IPY from the
Bergen Aquatic Microbiology Group:
(ID
No: 565)
DOC
variations in polar pelagic ecosystems and their relation to trophic control
mechanisms and diversity in polar microbial food webs. (Polar DOC and microbial food webs)
Outline
We will focus on the biological mechanisms related to the balance between
production and consumption of DOC in polar regions, with particular emphasis
on the potential effects of reduced ice cover. The main consumers of DOC in
the pelagic are the heterotrophic bacteria. The bacterial carbon demand (BCD)
can be factorized according to the equation BCD=µB/Y where µ is growth rate,
B is biomass, and Y is growth yield. According to present understanding,
bacterial growth rate can be limited by either the supply of degradable
organic material (C-limitation), or by mineral nutrients such dissolved inorganic
or organic nitrogen, phosphate or iron (mineral nutrient limitation). The two
cases represent very different types of control of bacterial activity: In the
C-limited case, bacteria will mineralise degradable DOC as fast as it is
produced. Temperature dependence of BCD thus must be a question of the
temperature dependence of DOC producing mechanisms in the food web, and any
accumulation must be caused by the production of recalcitrant forms of DOC.
In the case of mineral nutrient limitation, BCD becomes a function of how
bacterial growth rate is controlled by algal-bacterial nutrient competition,
how bacterial biomass is controlled by predation, and how growth yield varies
with factors such as temperature and growth rate. The balance between
production and consumption of DOC is closely related to the structure of the
pelagic food web. Reduced ice cover causing increased light influx obviously
increases algal competition for mineral nutrients and presumably stimulates
DOC production. Since viral lysis is thought to be one important mechanism
shunting material to the DOC pool instead of upwards along the predatory food
chain, lytic viruses represent a direct link between control of diversity
(richness) and DOC production. In such a conceptual framework, species
richness becomes a top-down controlled property determined by lysis and
predation. The species occupying these niches would to a larger extent be
expected to be bottom-up controlled with specialists for different limiting
substrates dominating the community. If this is true, species composition
would be expected to change with the type of limitation experienced by the
bacterial community. The Southern Ocean has the potential feature of
Fe-limited bacterial growth. For comparative purposes we propose to study the
outlined relationships during participation on one cruise in the Arctic and
one in the Antarctic. For experimental work on the microbial pelagic food
web, we propose a mesocosm study at Ny Ãlesund.
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Theme(s)
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Major Target
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The
current state of the polar environment
Change in the polar regions
Polar-global linkages and teleconnections
Exploring new frontiers
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Natural
or social sciences research
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Advances in relation to the IPY themes and targets anticipated from the
project
The project will contribute to the quantification and understanding of the
biological processes that form the basis of the food webs and the driving
forces of the biogeochemical cycles in the polar marine environment.
Furthermore the difference in the dynamics of the Southern and Northern
marine microbial food webs will be investigated. The biogeochemistry of the
two polar oceanic regions has profound influence on the rest of the world’s
ocean.
International
collaboration is involved in this project?
The project will coordinate an international consortium consisting of
FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS
Geographical
location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Open ocean studies: North: Barents Sea - Arctic Ocean Transect (30oE, 75-85oN
(alternatively 75oN – ice edge)). South: Antarctic Convergence – Ice edge
Transect (0oW, 50-70oS). Experimental studies: Mesocosms at Ny-Ã…lesund,
Svalbard (78° 55' N, 11° 56'
E) or Disco Bay, Greenland (69°15′N, 53°33′W).
Approximate
timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 09/07 - 11/07 08/08 -
09/08
Antarctic: 12/07 -
02/08
Significant
facilities will be required for this project:
The mesocosm studies will be located at Ny Ålesund or Disco Bay, where
laboratory and accommodation facilities are available. Equipment for the
experiments will have to be built and installed by the project. Two oceanic
expeditions are planned: 1) The Arctic ocean, requiring laboratory space and
accommodation for 10 researchers on an icebreaker (if an icebreaker is not
available the cruise transect will end at the ice edge). 2) The Southern
Ocean, requiring laboratory space and accommodation for 3 researchers
onboard. The oceanic part of the project will seek cooperation with physical
oceanographers and marine biologists for optimal use of resources and we
foresee joint cruises with other research groups.
Will
the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Equipment for mesocosm studies will be available for later research, however
the most important legacy building consists of educating new personnel
experienced in this type of arctic field work, and the understanding of polar
marine microbial food web which can form a basis for further research.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE
Is
the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an
existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New
The project will depend on the initiation of a new activity which will form
the core project at the Department of Biology. Other existing project at the
Department is expected to add activity within the consortium planned. In
addition, cooperation is sought with international partners with separate
funding.
How
will the project be organised and managed?
The project is anticipated as a consortium consisting of a core project and
several subprojects with separate funding. The core project will focus on the
main objectives identified and in addition be responsible for field work
planning and logistics. The core project will be established at the
Department of Biology, University of Bergen. Cooperating projects with their
own specific aims that adds to the main objective will be sought both within
the institution and elsewhere. So far, two international partners have been
identified.
What
are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach
and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The core project will employ two doctoral students. Furthermore the results
from the project will be actively used in the teaching at the Department of
Biology. The attention of the media will be actively sought, and activity and
results will be presented on web-pages in a popular form.
What
are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as
outlined in the Framework document?
Quantitative data will be stored electronically in worksheets or databases
and made available to IPY-databases as required. Qualitative data (images,
descriptions) will be stored electronically, listed in a www-searchable
database and made available on request. Biological material will be deposited
in genbanks, biobanks, clone librarys, and culture collections as required.
How
is it proposed to fund the project?
The core project at the Department of Biology will depend on funding from the
research Council of Norway, and a proposal will be submitted in June 2005. On
a later stage, possibilities for funding will be sought at the EU commission.
Is
there additional information you wish to provide?
The project will form a basis for continued research activity on polar
microbial food webs extending the IPY period. Given the present state of
understanding of the characteristics of the polar marine microbial food web
dynamics, the need for further research investigations is anticipated,
especially regarding the effects of climate change on the production
processes and the biogeochemical cycles in the polar regions, and their
interactions with the rest of the global marine ecosystems and the
atmosphere.
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