Project description
The role of microbes in sponge adaptation to heat stress
Marine sponges, comprising 40 % of their biomass, play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by creating habitats, cycling nutrients, sequestering carbon, supporting biodiversity, and filtering water. However, there is limited understanding of how ‘Blue icing sponges’ like Lendenfeldia chondrodes adapt to heat stress and their potential role as early indicators. The MSCA-funded SMART project explores how microbes associated with sponges, particularly L. chondrodes, assist in their adaptation to heat stress. The findings have broader societal implications, including enhanced ecosystem management and conservation strategies. The project uses interdisciplinary approaches to identify microbial indicators of environmental stress for early warning systems and more effective conservation efforts.
Objective
"Marine sponges, the multicellular and sessile with associated microbes constituting 40% of their biomass, are vital in marine ecosystems for habitat creation, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and water filtration. This project investigates how associated microbes enable sponges, particularly the blue icing sponge Lendenfeldia chondrodes, to adapt to heat stress. By studying microbial communities, we explore their influence on sponge resilience, survival, and recovery from high-temperature conditions. The findings contribute to global climate change understanding. The findings could contribute to the European Union's commitment to safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystems, ensuring long-term resilience and sustainability. Unravelling the roles of microbes in sponge adaptation holds broader societal implications, including improved ecosystem management, conservation strategies, and the development of early warning systems for monitoring environmental stress. While previous studies have explored microbial associations in sponges under stressful conditions, the specific focus on the adaptation of ""Blue icing sponges"" to heat stress and their potential as early indicators remains unexplored. The interdisciplinary nature of the project, combining molecular biology, omics studies (metagenomics and metatranscriptomics), ecology, and bioinformatics, promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines. Economically and technologically, identifying microbial indicators of environmental stress can facilitate the establishment of early warning systems and monitoring protocols, leading to more efficient conservation efforts and reduced costs associated with ecosystem degradation. Societally, the outcomes of this research can influence policies and decision-making related to marine conservation and climate change mitigation. The project will also support professional development through knowledge dissemination and research publication"
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmarine biology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany