Coccolithophorid dynamics : the European Emiliania Huxleyi programme

Objective

The unicellular pelagic alga Emiliania huxleyi is dominant among the ocean biota. E. huxleyi provides an ideal experimental system for integrated biological, biogeochemical, and geological research of the oceanic fluxes of carbon as well as the global carbon cycle. EHUX is a comprehensive experimental and modelling project focused on the calcium carbonate and organic carbon productivity and ocean carbon flux induced by E. huxleyi in the present N.E. Atlantic region.

The fundamental objective of this project is to improve our understanding of the processes involved in the growth and distribution of E. huxleyi and of its role in the oceanic carbon cycle.

The specific aims are:

1. Morphological and genetic characterization of clones and elucidation of life cycle.

2. Characterization of PIC, POC, biomarker, and CO2 productivity as a function of cellular and molecular organisation and life cycle stages.

3. Provision of quantitative information on calcite, biomarker, and CO2 productivity in response to controlled environmental condition.

4. Quantification of the processes outlined above in natural blooms at different stages of development and development of carbon budgets for well defined spring bloom conditions.

5. The development of descriptive and predictive models of the processes influencing coccolithophore dynamics and the interactions between E. huxleyi and its environment.

The achievement of these specific objectives is required to properly model the system for answering questions such as -
how much CO2 will the ocean sequester or produce under what conditions, and how fast?
The project will involve the characterization of the idiosyncratic and non-linear nature of the biological involvement in ocean chemistry and the intimate coupling of the fluxes of particulate inorganic carbon and particulate organic carbon. It will employ an integrated approach encompassing research and modelling at the biochemical, physiological, population dynamical, ecosystem and global levels.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › microbiology › phycology
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › inorganic compounds
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › alkaline earth metals
• social sciences › economics and business › economics › production economics › productivity
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › oceanography › ocean chemistry

Programme(s)

• FP3-MAST 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of marine science and technology, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 0104 - Biological processes

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NERC Centre of Coastal and Marine Sciences

Address

Prospect Place West Hoe
PL1 3DH Plymouth
United Kingdom

Participants (12)

ALFRED WEGENER INSTITUTE FOR POLAR AND MARINE RESEARCH

Germany

Address

Columbusstrasse
27568 Bremerhaven

Links

LEIDEN UNIVERSITY

Netherlands

Address

55,einsteinweg 55 Gorlaeus Laboratoria
2300 RA Leiden

Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Address

Citadel Hill
PL1 2PB Plymouth

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

United Kingdom

Address

Cromwell Road
London

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Norway

Address

46,bynesveien 46
7018 Trondheim

UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO

Spain

Address

S/n,catedratico Rodrigo Uria S/n
33071 Oviedo

UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

Norway

Address

55,thormoehlensgt. 55
5020 Bergen

UNIVERSITY OF OSLO

Norway

Address

Molkte Moes Vei 32 Blindern
0316 Oslo

UNIVERSITY OF WALES SWANSEA

United Kingdom

Address

Singleton Park
SA2 8PP Swansea

University of Bristol

United Kingdom

Address

Cantock's Close
BS8 1TS Bristol

University of Southampton

United Kingdom

Address

European Way
SO14 3ZH Southampton

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM - VERENIGING VOOR CHRISTELIJK WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERWIJS

Netherlands

Address

1087,de Boelelaan 1087
1081 HV Amsterdam