Project description DEENESFRITPL Exploring the role of dimethylated sulfur in marine ecosystems Sulfur is an essential chemical element rapidly recycled in the ocean in the form of biogenic dimethylated compounds. Dimethylated sulfur has been intensively studied for its emission to the atmosphere and its suggested roles in returning sulfur to continents and in climate regulation. These studies have advanced knowledge in plankton physiology and ecology as these forms of sulfur occur from organism adaptation to saline and sunlit waters and are integral to the food-web functioning. However, their role in marine ecosystems remains unexplored. The EU-funded SUMMIT project combines microbial physiology, ecology and biogeochemistry to investigate new roles of dimethylated sulfur in marine microbial food-web interactions. It will also evaluate if interactions through dimethylated sulfur render plankton food-webs more robust and efficient. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Sulphur is an essential element for life that cycles rapidly in the pelagic ocean in the form of biogenic dimethylated compounds. Over three decades, dimethylated sulphur has been intensively investigated for its emission to the atmosphere and its suggested roles in returning sulphur to continents and in climate regulation. While the climate connection still awaits definitive confirmation or denial, these research efforts have provided important advances in plankton physiology and ecology, since these forms of sulphur arise from organism adaptation to saline and sunlit waters and are integral to the food web machinery. Previous studies have disclosed biochemical and trophic cycling pathways and their taxonomic affiliations. Also, evidence for their behaviour as infochemicals in organism-organism communication has been obtained. However, their contribution to the functioning of marine ecosystems remains largely unexplored, particularly with respect to the emerging renewed picture of food webs, where classical functional roles blur and concepts like multifunctional organisms and interdependence become the rule rather than the exception. I propose to bridge microbial physiology, ecology and biogeochemistry to explore new roles of dimethylated sulphur in microbial food-web interactions. I will build upon a combination of molecular tools, isotopes, single-cell analyses, physiological dyes, chemotaxis experiments, modelling, sea-going opportunities and an existing collection of samples from diverse oceanic biomes. Hypothesis-driven research is expected to yield paradigm shifts in (i) phytoplankton-bacteria interactions through nitrogen fixation and vitamin exchange; (ii) phytoplankton-phytoplankton interactions to overcome energy limitation to growth; (iii) phytoplankton-herbivore interactions for selective grazing on weakened prey. Overall, I intend to assess if interactions through dimethylated sulphur make microbial food-webs more robust and efficient. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrybiogeochemistry Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Coordinator AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Net EU contribution € 2 499 187,00 Address Calle serrano 117 28006 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain Net EU contribution € 2 499 187,00 Address Calle serrano 117 28006 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
