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Losing weight? Eco-physiology and transcriptomics reveal climate forcing on lipid profiles and adaptation in marine biota

What is this project about?

Ocean warming and acidification are among the main threats to marine ecosystems. In this project, we are studying the adaptation of plankton communities to stressors, warming and acidification, caused by climate change. Sea surface temperature is expected to rise by 3–5°C by 2100 among Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and simultaneously, ocean pH may decline 0.4 units by 2100 and 0.77 units by 2300. We aim to uncover responses of zooplankton in community, physiology and cellular level as they adapt to future seawater conditions. Specifically, we are interested in changes in zooplankton fatty acid profiles and quantities, which are crucial for the whole marine food web.
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The quality of zooplankton affects our lives—for example, through the quality of the fish we eat.

clausicalanus

Microscopic image of Clausicalanus

Upcoming studies

ZETA is divided into three sub-study. Below you will find more information about our studies. 

Study I: How does long-term exposure to low pH impact genetic adaptation, plasticity, and fitness of zooplankton?

In this project, we will study fitness, physiological markers, and gene-expression profiles of zooplankton from areas, where release of volcanic CO₂ decrease sea water pH. We aim to increase knowledge about adaptation mechanisms of zooplankton to low pH.

Study II: How metabolism and cellular homeostasis of marine species are adapting to gradients of environmental factors?

The costal sea of northeastern Pacific Ocean is offering study area with gradually changing temperature, pH and salinity due to El Niño heatwaves and California Current System (CCS). In this project, we study metabolism and cellular stress of crabs alongside of gradually changing environmental conditions.

Study III: How will ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) affect plankton inhabiting in the Baltic Sea?

Artificial increases in alkalinity of sea water could be a solution to accelerate the ocean carbon sink capacity and improve sea water quality locally. We will organize large-scale mesocosm experiment with ocean alkalinity enhancement approach in Gulf of Finland and measure key variables about fitness and physiology of zooplankton and sea water carbon chemistry.

 

Funding

This Academy project Losing weight? Eco-physiology and transcriptomics reveal climate forcing on lipid profiles and adaptation in marine biota is funded by the Research Council of Finland 2024-2028. Other funders are Svenska kulturfonden and Waldemar von Frenckells stiftelse.
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