Objective
Eutrophication of estuarine and coastal ecosystems due to increased anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen is an increasing problem. Benthic microbial processes influence nitrogen loads particularly by denitrification removing up to 50% of the load. However, a product of nitrate reduction is the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Understanding the benthic processes involved in the removal of nitrogen, or the formation of nitrous oxide, is important for the management and reduction of nutrient load to coastal waters and greenhouse gases emissions. Nitrate reduction in estuarine sediments is mediated by two main functional groups of bacteria.
Bacterial denitrifiers reduce nitrate or nitrite to gases subsequently lost from the aquatic environment, while nitrate ammonifier s reduce nitrate to ammonium that remains in the system. The first step in both processes is identical (nitrate reduction to nitrite) and is catalysed by one of the two types of nitrate reductase enzyme (NAR and NAP) that show different physiological roles depending on the bacterial functional group involved and environmental conditions.
Aim is to study the spatial distribution and seasonal changes of genes coding for NAR and NAP, and their expression level, in the benthic nitrate reducing community along an estuarine nitrate concentration gradient and relate these to process rates. To accomplish this, the researcher will apply modern molecular (eg. real time PCR) and biogeochemical (eg. stable isotopes) techniques in an inter-disciplinary way that will strengthen his scientific skills. The results will allow to test the hypotheses that changes in the concentrations of electron acceptors result in differences in the distribution of functional genes and groups of nitrate reducers along an estuary and that differences in rates and relative importance of key nitrogen processes along an estuarine gradient are related with changes in the expression of the corresponding functional genes.
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.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences physical geography coastal geography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems coastal ecosystems
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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.
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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
COLCHESTER
United Kingdom
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.