Project description
Mapping biodiversity distribution of planktonic larvae in Arctic ecosystems
Effective Arctic conservation relies on understanding population genetics and biodiversity distribution under changing environmental conditions. Bottom-dwelling invertebrates are vital to Arctic marine ecosystems for nutrient cycling, carbon sequestering and food web support. Meanwhile, their microscopic planktonic larvae are dispersed via ocean currents, making it difficult to assess their distribution and diversity. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the POLARIS project will combine advanced metaboarding and metaphylogeography techniques to survey biodiversity distribution and hotspots of drifting larvae and elucidate genetic connectivity across Arctic Ocean basins. It will then turn the research findings into actionable conservation plans by contributing to the World Wildlife Fund’s ArcNet and the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.
Objective
In a rapidly changing Arctic, identifying priority areas for conservation requires understanding of biodiversity distribution and genetic connectivity. Benthic invertebrates are central to Arctic marine ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and food webs. While adults live on the seafloor, their microscopic larvae drift with ocean currents, driving species dispersal and connectivity. Because these larvae are nearly impossible to identify by eye, knowledge of their diversity and distribution remains scarce. Recent advances in DNA techniques, however, have revolutionized larval identification so that most larvae can now be identified to species and even population level directly from bulk plankton samples, opening new possibilities for Arctic biodiversity research.
The POLARIS project will use these tools to 1) map biodiversity patterns and hotspots of benthic invertebrate larvae at a pan-Arctic scale, 2) uncover networks of genetic connectivity across the Arctic Ocean, and 3) translate findings into conservation planning, including contributions to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report and WWF’s ArcNet tool. Existing samples from across the Arctic will be combined with new collections from undersampled regions. DNA metabarcoding will generate species inventories, while the emerging field of metaphylogeography will capitalize on these same DNA sequences to assess genetic connectivity.
This Global Fellowship will provide inter- and trans-disciplinary training at Laval University (outgoing) and the University of Barcelona (return), with a non-academic placement at the WWF Global Arctic Programme to focus on conservation applications. By bridging research and conservation, POLARIS will close a critical information gap, ensure that management efforts account for all life stages of marine species, and equip the fellow with unique interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral expertise to address urgent Arctic conservation challenges.
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 marine biology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
08007 Barcelona
Spain
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.