Objective
The oceans beneath polar ice are among the darkest ecosystems on Earth, where sunlight can be reduced by more than ten orders of magnitude between summer solstice and polar night. Yet, microalgae not only survive but thrive in these extreme conditions, sustaining life at the base of Arctic and Antarctic food webs. How do photosynthetic organisms function at the very edge of light availability? And how will ongoing climate-driven thinning of ice and snow, which increases under-ice light, reshape polar ecosystems? The Twil’Ice project will push the frontiers of photosynthesis research into the twilight zone of biology. We will determine the absolute lower limits of photosynthesis in polar microalgae, explore survival strategies during the quasi-dark polar night, and reveal how even the faintest photon fluxes are harvested to sustain life. Using novel tools—including in-ice endoscopic microscopy, ultrasensitive spectroscopy, micro-CT imaging of sea ice microstructure, and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry—we will quantify photosynthetic energy fluxes down to levels never before measured. Combining laboratory experiments, year-round field campaigns aboard the new Tara Polar Station, and cutting-edge remote sensing, Twil’Ice will link microscale light–life interactions to basin-scale primary production. This integrated approach will uncover how light, nutrients, and microalgal physiology jointly constrain carbon fixation in ice-covered oceans, past and present. By establishing how life persists at the edge of darkness, Twil’Ice will not only redefine our understanding of polar ecosystems under rapid climate change but also provide insights into survival strategies during ancient Snowball Earth events and the potential for life beneath the ice on other planets.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences biological sciences marine biology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology cell metabolism
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences oceanography physical oceanography
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences physical geography glaciology
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 Paris
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.