Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C003160/1
Molecular Diversity of Marine Photosynthetic Picoeukaryotes and their Contribution to C Cycling
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor DJ Scanlan, University of Warwick, Biological Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor M Zubkov, Scottish Association For Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory
- Grant held at:
- University of Warwick, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Abstract:
- Photosynthesis in the oceans leads to the production of just under half of the oxygen in the atmosphere. In the nutrient-poor central regions of the oceans this production of oxygen is dominated by very small, single celled organisms, which are referred to as the photosynthetic picoplankton. Marine photosynthetic picoeukaryotes [PPEs] (organisms < 3 mm in size), contribute significantly to global biomass and primary productivity estimates and thus play an essential role in global C cycling. However, their genetic and physiological diversity is poorly described. The description of several new picoeukaryote algal classes during the last decade highlights this well. Our poor current knowledge concerning picoeukaryote diversity does not allow us to identify the major taxa potentially responsible for carbon fixation. We propose here to characterise the extent of this diversity by utilising newly developed SSU (plastid) rRNA oligonucleotide probes specific for picoeukaryote taxa. In addition, we will use dot-blot hybridisation, fluorescent in situ hybridisation and microautoradiography to begin to assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of this important photoautotrophic community both horizontally, along several ocean transects, and vertically, down a water column, and to assess the primary production contribution of phylogenetically identified members of the marine PPE community. Knowledge of the PPEs occupying specific locations in the water column is necessary since different algal classes likely have different cell specific C fixation rates. Thus, estimates of global productivity using satellite imagery, which utilise only surface chlorophyll measurements, may underestimate productivity by not 'accounting' for this photosynthesis at depth and which may contribute a significant proportion of the total. Similarly, it is clear that since the species composition of pelagic food webs is intimately coupled with other major biogeochemical 'functions' of the oceans not just the carbon cycle, it is necessary that for models to adequately predict the flow of elements through marine ecosystems the detailed structure of individual components of this food web be known. Thus how organisms like PPEs function and react to short-term change, and ultimately evolve through genetic change, is crucial to understanding how the marine ecosystem responds to and changes the chemical environment and so ultimately affects global climate.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C003160/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £245,971
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £9,600 | £130,266 | £46,184 | £59,923 |
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