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Description
Climate change is impacting marine systems. Obvious and increasing modifications are witnessed through ocean warming and acidification. These changes strongly influence ocean climate, biogeochemical cycling and fundamental biological processes. Plankton are the base of the food chain and promote ocean services such as ocean production, fisheries, oxygen and carbon cycling. Predicting changes to these services requires an improved understanding of how phytoplankton will react to the changes in habitat, through changing physiological and ecosystem stressors/drivers. Quantifying plankton response to climate change is crucial for understanding the long-term stability of marine ecosystems to enable better ecosystem management. Model representations of plankton responses are mainly based on short-term experiments, and these experiments do not provide information on the evolutionary potential of these organisms. Importantly, science is often developed independent of user requirements so that scientific products are not fit-for-purpose. Through this project we aim to understand evolutionary responses to warming and acidification in marine plankton, focusing on two model organisms: Skeletonema marinoi and Emiliania huxleyi. These are globally distributed algae, often producing very large blooms in coastal marine areas. The new knowledge of planktonic response to climate change will be incorporated into coupled climate-ecosystem models to provide key stakeholders, participating throughout the project to secure targeted scientific products, with relevant information for decision making.
Summary of project results
The ADVANCE project addressed critical challenges related to climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Phytoplankton, such as Skeletonema marinoi and Emiliania huxleyi, are crucial as primary producers, organisms that use sunlight and simple substances found in the water into biomass, forming the base of the marine food web. All ocean life relies on these primary producers, making them vital for both ecological balance and the economy of many countries with large fishing and seafood industries. Climate change, with rising temperatures and CO2 levels, threatens their survival and function. Before this project, there was limited understanding of how these key species would adapt to future conditions. Additionally, there was no collaboration between Romanian and Norwegian scientists in this field. The project aimed to fill these knowledge gaps by studying the long-term responses of these phytoplankton species to climate change, fostering international collaboration, and enhancing research capabilities. The project''s findings would inform adaptive strategies for sustainable marine resource management and contribute to global climate change research.
We conducted extensive research to understand the impact of climate change on key marine phytoplankton species, Skeletonema marinoi and Emiliania huxleyi. The project pre- adapted these species to future predicted conditions, then assessed their responses to increased temperatures and CO2 levels. Over 30 strains were isolated and analyzed for their polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content, revealing a general decrease with higher temperatures. This has significant implications for marine food webs and the seafood industry.
The project included joint mesocosm experiments at the Kristineberg Research Station in Sweden, involving the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and the Institute of Biological Research Cluj (ICB Cluj). Advanced modeling predicted the stability of diatom and coccolithophore populations in the western Norwegian fjords despite future climate changes.
Unexpectedly, the project also found that pre-adapted strains did not have a competitive advantage in natural microbial communities, highlighting the complexity of ecosystem interactions. Outreach activities included a TEDx talk by Dr. Bogdan Druga, workshops, and international presentations, raising awareness and fostering collaboration. The project produced 10 high-impact journal publications, contributing valuable data to climate change research and informing sustainable marine resource management.
The ADVANCE project significantly improved our understanding of how key marine phytoplankton species, Skeletonema marinoi and Emiliania huxleyi, respond to climate change. These aquatic microorganisms are essential because they produce polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are vital nutrients for small marine animals (called “zooplankton)” that eat them. These small animals are then eaten by larger predators, making PUFAs crucial for the entire ocean food chain.
The project found that PUFA levels in these phytoplankton decrease with higher temperatures. This discovery is important for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and the seafood industry. Scientists benefited from the project through 10 high-impact journal articles that added valuable knowledge to climate change research.
Local and national policymakers and environmental managers gained insights through workshops and stakeholder meetings, helping them create better strategies to protect marine environments. The project''s educational activities also inspired students, fostering a new generation of marine scientists.
The collaboration between Romanian and Norwegian scientists strengthened international research networks, enhancing the scientific capabilities of both countries and promoting future joint research. This partnership has also put Romanian scientists on the global map of marine research, helping to reduce economic and social disparities.
Summary of bilateral results
The ADVANCE project strengthened bilateral cooperation between Romania and Norway through a successful partnership between ICB Cluj and NIVA. This collaboration combined NIVA''s expertise in marine biology and ecosystem modeling with ICB Cluj''s growing capabilities in phytoplankton research.Joint activities, such as mesocosm experiments in Sweden and scientific visits to Germany, facilitated knowledge exchange and built strong professional relationships. The project involved stakeholders from both countries, ensuring the findings were relevant and applicable to Romanian and Norwegian contexts.This cooperation enhanced the international visibility of Romanian scientists and laid the foundation for future joint research initiatives, ensuring sustained collaboration beyond the project''s duration.