
The Vital Role of Plankton in Ocean Biogeochemistry
So, what exactly does Meike’s team study? Their focus is on the global cycling of important elements in the Earth system. Specifically, they models marine ecosystems—particularly plankton ecosystems—working to understand where different plankton species live, what they do, and how they contribute to the cycling of nutrients like nitrogen and carbon.
Why is this so important? Meike explains that plankton are the "plants of the ocean." They support half of Earth's primary production and produce a great part of the oxygen being breathed. However, unlike terrestrial ecosystems, plankton are microscopic and live in a vast, inaccessible environment. This makes studying them incredibly challenging, but also crucial for understanding the ocean’s role in regulating the planet’s climate.
Bringing Data Together: What AtlantECO Is Achieving
In AtlantECO, Meike’s team is working to create a comprehensive database of plankton diversity and abundance patterns by bringing together millions of observations from various sources—images, DNA sequencing, and direct observations with organisms caught in nets and seen under microscopes. This database aims to identify which plankton species thrive in different ocean environments and how they contribute to the global cycling of carbon and nutrients.
These findings not only deepen our understanding of plankton’s role but also offer insights into the broader ecological functions they support.
The Future of Plankton Research: What's Next for AtlantECO?
As AtlantECO enters its final months, Meike’s team is focused on integrating the vast data they've collected with new observations, particularly those from cutting-edge genetic techniques that can identify plankton species based on their DNA. This integration will help ensure that new data aligns with existing knowledge, creating a more complete picture of the ocean’s ecosystems.
The team also plans to continue analysing the large dataset they've already compiled to uncover more about the ecology, physiology, and functions of plankton. Meike is excited about the potential for new discoveries and looks forward to collaborating on projects that will help reveal the hidden details of these vital systems.
Making the Research Accessible: From Policy to Public Outreach
The ultimate goal of this research is to make it accessible to a wide range of stakeholders. Meike’s team is working to package their findings in a way that is useful to policymakers, ecosystem managers, and conservationists for example. By identifying hotspots of plankton diversity and ecosystem function, their work can inform conservation efforts and help guide policies that protect the health of the ocean.
The Responsibility of Scientists in the Face of Climate Change
As the conversation draws to a close, Meike reflects on the responsibility scientists have in the context of climate change. While she feels passionate about the ocean and its role in regulating the climate, she emphasizes the importance of remaining objective.
More on AtlantECO: www.atlanteco.eu
The AtlantECO project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 862923. This output reflects only the author’s view and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
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