Subject field
Ecology, Marine
Title
Temperature sensitivity of plankton respiration coupled to resource supply.
Project period
Spring or autumn 2025. 15 to 60 ECTS
Background
Respiration is one of the most important processes in the biosphere and an integral part in the metabolism of all living organisms. In aerobic environments oxygen is consumed coupled with degradation of carbon compounds constituting the major process removing oxygen and producing carbon dioxide. Thereby respiration is relevant for both the occurrence of hypoxia and release of CO2 from aquatic environments (i.e., climate change effects). The knowledge of
interaction between temperature and availability of organic carbon substrates for regulation of respiration in organisms is limited.
Overall aim
Clarifying the interaction of temperature and substrate availability for
regulating plankton respiration.
Research question
Is plankton respiration more temperature sensitive at higher substrate supply during the spring bloom?
Method
The sensitivity to small temperature changes in steps of 1 °C will be investigated before, during and after the spring bloom in the northern Baltic Sea. The effect of addition of cell substrates will complement field studies. Respiration is measured by a sensor-based technology using incubator with Peltier-element technique. The field work will be done in the Öre Estuary coupled to a running monitoring program.
Workplace
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science and Umeå Marine Sciences Center (UMF), Norrbyn.
Contact
