Summary
Particulate organic carbon generated by primary production in surface waters is exported into the ocean’s interior through the biological pump, contributing to the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and partial sequestration of ocean carbon. Microbial transformation mechanisms on sinking aggregates directly impact the quantity and quality of organic matter reaching the deep sea. Due to their importance in biogeochemical cycles, sinking particles and their microbial components have received increasing attention in the past few years. However, microbial interactions and mechanisms involved in particle formation and degradation remain largely unexplored. The overarching goal of the current project is to explore for the first time the specific functions of particle-associated prokaryotes in determining the fate of sinking particulate organic matter (POM). First aim is to investigate in situ the RNA-based functional and genomic characteristics of sinking particle-attached microbes over time at different depths, using metatranscriptomics and metagenomics analyses. We also aim to elucidate the protein-based functional profiles of microbial communities on sinking particles and uncover linkages between microbial enzymes involved in the degradation of POM, using a comparative metaproetomics and metagenomics approach. Additionally, we aim to examine the carbon uptake, metabolic activity and colonization patterns of sinking-particle-attached microbes, using stable isotope probing coupled with amino acid tagging and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. It is anticipated that the insights provided into microbially mediated processes regulating POM transformation will set the basis for better understanding the oceanic carbon cycle, and further improve predictions on future ocean biogeochemical cycles and climate change.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101064476 |
| Start date: | 01-06-2023 |
| End date: | 31-07-2025 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 183 600,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Particulate organic carbon generated by primary production in surface waters is exported into the ocean’s interior through the biological pump, contributing to the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and partial sequestration of ocean carbon. Microbial transformation mechanisms on sinking aggregates directly impact the quantity and quality of organic matter reaching the deep sea. Due to their importance in biogeochemical cycles, sinking particles and their microbial components have received increasing attention in the past few years. However, microbial interactions and mechanisms involved in particle formation and degradation remain largely unexplored. The overarching goal of the current project is to explore for the first time the specific functions of particle-associated prokaryotes in determining the fate of sinking particulate organic matter (POM). First aim is to investigate in situ the RNA-based functional and genomic characteristics of sinking particle-attached microbes over time at different depths, using metatranscriptomics and metagenomics analyses. We also aim to elucidate the protein-based functional profiles of microbial communities on sinking particles and uncover linkages between microbial enzymes involved in the degradation of POM, using a comparative metaproetomics and metagenomics approach. Additionally, we aim to examine the carbon uptake, metabolic activity and colonization patterns of sinking-particle-attached microbes, using stable isotope probing coupled with amino acid tagging and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. It is anticipated that the insights provided into microbially mediated processes regulating POM transformation will set the basis for better understanding the oceanic carbon cycle, and further improve predictions on future ocean biogeochemical cycles and climate change.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01Update Date
09-02-2023
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