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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      Cruise plan and schedule, Cruise logistics and participation, CODENET WWW Site Index Page

      Please send comments or corrections to Jeremy Young