Objective
The aim of this project is to gain knowledge of processes in the early stages of marine bio fouling. This is an important and expensive problem and recent estimates suggest that the worldwide annual cost to shipping and marine industries is more than US$6 billion. Current attempts to control bio fouling rely on toxic chemicals and alternative ways not detrimental to the marine environment are urgently needed.
This fellowship will allow the researcher to combine her existing expertise on bio hydrodynamics with the expertise in microbial ecology of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and to develop a thorough understanding of the biological processes involved in bio fouling. The seaweed Ulva, which is a cosmopolitan intertidal macroalgae, is a highly successful bio-fouling organism.
The reproductive stages, spores, are motile and settle onto a hard surface where they develop into a new plant. Settlement involves a process of `sensing a surface, and a choice of whether to attach permanently or move to another more suitable surface. Many factors are known to influence spore surface-selection but work at PML has shown that the presence of bacterial bio films is essential. In addition, the PML group has shown that spores respond to the chemical signal molecules that bacteria produce and use to communicate with other bacteria, a process known as "quorum sensing".
This fellowship will allow the researcher to gain expertise in the microbiology of surfaces and of how Ulva spores exploit bacterial signal molecules. It will complement her existing knowledge of the influence of water flows on spore settlement. The collaboration provides an opportunity to investigate new questions relating to how variable water flow dilutes the bacterial signal molecules in marine bio films. The researcher will gain excellent training at the PML, a marine laboratory with a world-class reputation, and will also gain project management skills and learn about potential commercialisation of the results.
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 biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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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.
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.
FP6-2005-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
PLYMOUTH
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.