CODENET COCCOLITHOPHORID ECOLOGY CRUISE
Scientific aims
Lisbon June 1999, organisers Mario Cachao, Anabela Oliviera, Hanno
Kinkel, Jeremy Young
INTRODUCTION
The cruise opportunity comes from the fact that by collaboration with the
Portuguese navy the Lisbon group are able to use a small but well
equipped ship at very reasonable cost. The ETH group have indeed
used it for special sampling cruises to try to catch some of the key
Gephyrocapsa and Calcidiscus varieties we were
missing. For the June cruise (actually 2x 1 day cruises) we will build on
this experience and attempt attempt something more ambitious. We wil use
the cruise to collect a limited set of samples for integrated analysis
using the range of methodologies being employed in the CODENET in order
to allow some specific scientific goals to be realised and to provide a
common sample set for intercalibration purposes, methodology development
etc. More broadly we see the cruise a small-scale experiment in
organising a multidisciplinary phytoplankton study of a type which is not
usually attempted but which many people are beginning to talk about. In
this sense it will be a training exercise for all participants.
CRUISE OBJECTIVES
Intercalibration
As result of this cruise all CODENET teams/post docs will end up
including on one (small) common set of samples in their work.
Methodology development
The CODENET approach includes an unusually broad range of disciplines.
The cruise will allow a chance of investigating, on a small scale, the
possibilities for field-based projects using this range of approaches. In
particular we seek here to:
- Investigate phytoplankton ecology through a suite of tradtional and
novel techniques. (see list of activities)
- Provide an ideal set of samples for development of innovative
techniques which require total characterisation of the phytoplankton.
Specific sub-projects relative to this:
- Investigation of microdiversity in Gephyrocapsa relative to
local ecology (based on strain isolation from well characterised water
samples).
- Investigation of molecular genetics of phytoplankton using biomass
samples (can DNA detected taxa be related to water sample assemblages?)
- Investigation of organic geochemistry of phytoplankton using biomass
samples
Training opportunity
This will provide an opportunity for scientists without cruise experience
to go on ship. It will also provide an experience for several
participants in cruise organisation.
CRUISE/POST CRUISE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
This is still developing but should include:
- Phytoplankton enumeration - Caen + NHM (inc. diatoms Billard;
dinoflagellates Probert; nanoflagellates Novarino). Zooplankton analysis
by ETHZ - and VUA? Multiple sampling to be carried out including
fixed samples using each of neutralised 4% formalin, Lugol, acidified Lugol, and gluteraldehyde.
- Coccolith assemblage analysis - any/all participants who wish to. LM
(cellulose acetate) and SEM (nucleopore) filters to be prepared. NHM,
VUA, CSIC, ETHZ.
- Biometric study of CODENET spp. NHM, VUA, ETHZ, Lisbon.
- Culture isolation (Caen, ETHZ)
- Chlorophyll analysis - CSIC (Kees)
- Sea water chemistry (nutrients, salinity etc.) - NIOZ.
- CTD (characterization of physical oceanography) - Lisbon
- Remote sensing (though collaboration with Plymouth we should be able
to get temperature data + SEAWIFS coverage).
- Organic geochemistry (uk37 calibration plus use of samples for other
biomarker work)
- Molecular biology (see specific sub-projects above) - AWI
- Stable isotope analysis of water and carbonate samples - VUA.
- Coccolith trace element chemistry - VUA, Oviedo
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Please send comments or corrections to Jeremy Young