Project descriptions
Arctic marine zooplankton have evolved in unique adaptative strategies to the long, dark, cold, and unproductive Polar Nights. Key zooplankton species such as Calanus copepods descend from the surface to the deep sea for diapause. Numerically, this is one of the largest animal migrations on earth, and it can affect local to regional climate and carbon sequestration of the ocean. Many other zooplankton species such as the bioluminescent Metridia longa, or the transparent arrow worms Parasagitta elegans are active during the Polar Nights. However, we do not know how anthropogenic stressors such as climate change (e.g. marine heatwaves) or pollutants of emerging concern may affect the physiology, behaviour, and survival of diapause and non-diapause species during the Polar Nights.
The student(s) will combine field sampling on scientific cruises in Svalbard and lab
experiments to investigate the effects of environmental pollutants on diapause and non-diapause Arctic zooplankton physiology, behaviour, and survival. By comparing responses of diapause and non-diapause zooplankton species, it would be possible to reveal how different evolutionary adaptations to Polar Nights may affect their vulnerability to multiple anthropogenic stressors. Student(s) will develop experiments with supervisors.
Student(s) will learn how to work with an automatic imaging system, applied statistics, and general toxicology, and gain field skills in beautiful Arctic marine ecosystems. We offer a supportive learning environment, where the student will be part of a larger group working with different invertebrate species in aquatic environments. Hands-on training in the laboratory and the field. A potential visit to our collaborators in Svalbard. The possibility of attending a World Congress such as SETAC depends on budget availability.
If you are interested
Please send me a brief description of yourself and your motivation for this project: van.k.dinh@ibv.uio.no or pass by my office (KBH 4509).
References
Dinh, K. V., Albini, D., Orr, J. A., Macaulay, S. J., Rillig, M. C., Borg?, K., & Jackson, M. C. (2023). Winter is coming: Interactions of multiple stressors in winter and implications for the natural world. Global Change Biology, 29(24), 6834-6845. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16956
Borg?, K., McKinney, M. A., Routti, H., Fernie, K. J., Giebichenstein, J., Hallanger, I., & Muir, D. C. (2022). The influence of global climate change on accumulation and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in Arctic food webs. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 24, 1544-1576.
Lab work
Field work