Abstract
The interaction between the biosphere, the atmosphere and the hydrosphere is mediated by microorganisms being the main drivers of biogeochemical cycles in the ocean and the main producers and consumers of inorganic nutrients, organic carbon and CO2. The M icroPolar [µP] project focuses on marine microbial food webs and biogeochemical cycles in the Arctic Ocean and will provide a better description and understanding of the organisms, the processes, and the feedback mechanisms that shape this interaction. Th e most critical R&D challenges posed by environmental change in the Arctic Ocean concerns the role of microorganisms; "Who are they?", "What are they doing?", "How do they interact?" and "How do they respond to the current climate change?". A project appr oaching these questions calls for interdisciplinary collaboration. State of the art analytical techniques and metagenomics will be used to describe the microbial community and to quantify carbon flow in Arctic microbial food webs during a full annual cyc le. Sensitivity experiments with biogeochemical process studies in mesocosms will be used to inform on the key importance of biogeochemical feedbacks to climate change and rising CO2. The project partners cover a range of disciplines including microbial e cology, climate research, biogeochemistry, marine chemistry, metagenomics and ocean modeling, which all are required to conduct the research and to integrate the results in an Earth system science and environmental management perspective. MicroPolar [µP] will generate a unique dataset, with a potential bioprospecting spin-off. It will improve Earth system models and climate projections, and contribute to the conception needed for a knowledge based management of natural resources and industrial activity in the polar regions.
Norway