Chemosynthesis: a hidden foundation of marine biodiversity and productivity. Microbial chemosynthesis (i.e. carbon fixation using inorganic energy sources) is a critical but understudied process suppo

Description

Chemosynthesis: a hidden foundation of marine biodiversity and productivity. Microbial chemosynthesis (i.e. carbon fixation using inorganic energy sources) is a critical but understudied process supporting life and nutrient cycling in the unlit ocean. This program will provide the first systematic assessment of the importance, processes, and mediators of chemosynthesis for ocean biodiversity and productivity. To do so, we will combine microbial and biogeochemical analyses of (i) depth transects in the open ocean, (ii) understudied unlit niches (sea caves, shipwrecks), and (iii) reef-building coral microbiomes. The project will provide wide-reaching benefits by increasing knowledge of marine ecology, microbiology, and biogeochemistry, including better understanding and constraining a key global carbon sink. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3107 - Microbiology. Lead: Prof Chris Greening