Using population genomics and metabarcoding to pro-actively manage kelp bioresources

Project Information

NorKHelp

Grant agreement ID: 844643

DOI

10.3030/844643

Project closed

EC signature date 1 April 2019

Start date 2 April 2019

End date 28 September 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 202 158,72

EU contribution

€ 202 158,72

Coordinated by

HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTET
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NorKHelp (Using population genomics and metabarcoding to pro-actively manage kelp bioresources)

Reporting period: 2019-04-02 to 2021-04-01

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Kelp forests are known globally as hotspots for macroscopic biodiversity. Norway has Europe’s largest population of kelp having a long tradition of exploiting wild populations of this natural resource. There is currently a lot of interest in the species, Saccharina latissima, to develop Norway’s kelp industry through large scale cultivation at sea. Kelp forests are however vulnerable to climate change, overharvesting and biofouling by epiphytes. Due to the importance of kelp to Norway’s bioeconomy, it is vital to fill current research gaps in relation to kelp forest ecosystems in order to use the resource sustainably. Bacterial and epiphytic algal communities have been shown to be important for the fitness of kelp hosts, with certain epiphytes improving fitness and others leading to a complete loss of biomass within populations. This study, will quantify the gene flow between populations of kelp forests of S. latissima. The community structure of epiphytic algae and bacteria will be described to determine if the host genotype or the environment determines their composition. Finally, the key taxa associated with environmental change that could be used as bioindicators to proactively monitor kelp populations and cultivation sites will be established.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

All field work has been completed and samples have been collected for the DNA and metabarcoding analyses. 288 samples were collected from 11 sites along the coast of Norway, from Trømso to Hvaler.
The DNA has been extracted from all the individuals of S. latissima and the libraries prepared for sequencing. Sequencing failed in the first batch so now I have to prepare 3 new libraries to resend to the sequencing centre. I am currently awaiting lab materials to proceed, which have been delayed given the current situation.
I participated in the meeting of the MarGenII network (an Interegg project working on the industrial challenges faced within the blue bioeconomy sector in the Skagerakk-Kattegat region), held in Kristiansand, Norway on the 23rd-24th January 2020. A presentation was given on the NorKHelp project. I also attended the 2nd meeting of MarGenII on August 19-20th 2020 which was held online.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The results from the completion of WP1 will lead to a manuscript outlining the gene flow and genetic variation between populations of S. latissima and the proposal of genetic zones to secure genetic diversity before the species’ exploitation. The results from WP2 will lead to manuscript describing the community structure of epiphytes and endophytes (algal and bacterial) on S. latissima. Near the end of the project a manuscript combining the results of WP2 and WP3, describing the community structure of epiphytes and endophytes (algal and bacterial) on S. latissima, whether these are determined by the host genotype or environmental factors and the link between these microbiomes and the health status of S. latissima populations as a means to provide bioindicators for monitoring the health of populations will be submitted. The results generated from this action will tie into the IMR’s ongoing long-term survey of kelp populations and will be used to implement better management strategies in both natural and cultivated kelp populations.

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