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A small window to the future of our oceans: genomic divergence, plasticity and microbiome shifts in marine invertebrates along natural pH gradients

Project description

A closer look at ocean acidification

Rapid CO2 emissions are driving ocean acidification, threatening marine life. By 2100, acidity may rise by 150 %, potentially endangering half of marine biodiversity. The impact on the resilience of species varies, presenting unknown risks to ocean ecosystems. With the support of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the DIVERGEN project will study echinoderms in natural pH gradients, aiming to uncover adaptation strategies and fill crucial gaps in ecological genomics. Key goals include uncovering intra-species coping mechanisms, exploring evolutionary versus plastic responses, and studying larval microbiomes. Insights gained will aid in predicting species resilience and filling critical gaps in ecological genomics. DIVERGEN pioneers a multidisciplinary approach to safeguarding marine life in a rapidly changing world.

Objective

Ocean acidification (OA) is a global problem caused by the rapidly increased CO2 emissions to the atmosphere since the Industrial revolution. Ocean acidity is predicted to increase from 100% to 150% by 2100, which will affect half of the marine biodiversity. The resilience, adaptive and survival potential of marine organisms to OA can highly vary among species, and the broader implications for ocean ecosystems are far from known. In this sense, marine CO2 vents, which generate pH gradients over short geographical distances, provide a perfectly designed natural laboratory to study the long-term effects of OA and to look into the future of our oceans. The project aims to understand the biological strategies of calcifying marine species to overcome the effects of OA, using a keystone echinoderm widely distributed across a current natural gradient of pH. We will use an innovative and multidisciplinary approach combining transcriptomics and metagenomics together with physiological and ecological data to provide a deeper understanding of the adaptation and plasticity of echinoderms. This proposal will focus on different biological characteristics that determine the potential of the species to survive and adapt to changing environments and generate important knowledge about 1) intra- and inter-specific processes to cope with rapid environmental change, 2) adaptative evolution versus phenotypic plasticity in the biological responses of organisms, 3) larval microbiome to modulate responses to environmental stresses and 4) the vulnerability of the different life phases of organisms to climate change. This information will allow us to understand the buffering systems and adaptation strategies used by the species, predict the resilience of organisms to OA and finally, fill a relevant knowledge gap in ecological genomics.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
Net EU contribution

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€ 190 453,52
Address
GRAN VIA DE LES CORTS CATALANES 585
08007 BARCELONA
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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