The Arctic is undergoing rapid environmental change, and scientists are working to understand how declining sea ice affects life in the Arctic Ocean. To address this challenge, the Marine Microbiology Research Group at the University of Bergen is participating in the SEDNA project (led by Maxime Geoffrey and Marit Reigstad at UiT) and the international Tara Polaris I expedition.
The Tara Polar Station, a unique drifting research platform frozen into Arctic sea ice, will spend approximately 18 months collecting observations throughout the entire seasonal cycle, including the rarely studied polar winter. This long-term expedition aims to improve our understanding of how Arctic ecosystems respond to climate change.
Our research group contributes expertise in microbial ecology, studying the microorganisms that form the foundation of Arctic marine food webs and play key roles in ecosystem functioning. Throughout the expedition, we will monitor microbial abundance and diversity, analysing samples both onboard the station and later in our laboratories at UiB using advanced techniques such as flow cytometry.
Over the course of the expedition, around 1,500 samples will be collected, providing an unprecedented time series of microbial life in Arctic sea ice and surface waters. These data will help reveal how changes in the physical environment influence microbial biodiversity and ecosystem processes in a rapidly changing Arctic Ocean.
Follow the Tara Polar Station: Webcam https://awi.panomax.com/tara-polar-station?cu=en-GB and when started live data and regular reports will be provided on this link. https://data.meereisportal.de/relaunch/tara_polaris1?lang=en
Tiny Life, Big Importance: Exploring the Microbial Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is changing faster than almost anywhere else on Earth. Sea ice is shrinking, waters are warming, and ecosystems are being transformed. But how do these dramatic changes affect the ocean’s smallest inhabitants?
As part of the Polhavet 2050 (Arctic Ocean 2050) research programme, scientists from the University of Bergen are investigating the microscopic life that forms the foundation of Arctic marine ecosystems. Aboard the Norwegian research icebreaker RV Kronprins Haakon, researchers are collecting samples across the central Arctic Ocean to study bacteria, viruses, and microscopic algae.
Although invisible to the naked eye, these microorganisms are essential for life in the ocean. They support marine food webs, recycle nutrients, and help regulate the Earth’s carbon cycle. By studying where these organisms live, how diverse they are, and how active they are, scientists can better understand how the Arctic ecosystem is responding to climate change.
The expedition is collecting samples to explore viral diversity, discover rare and potentially unknown bacteria, measure microbial abundance, and assess microbial activity. Together, these observations will provide new insights into the hidden world of Arctic microorganisms and their crucial role in the future Arctic Ocean.
By understanding the smallest forms of life in the Arctic, we gain a better understanding of the future of the Arctic itself.
You can follow the project on the website here:
FF Kronprins Haakon på vei mot Nordpolen | Polhavet 2050
Siste rapport fra Katrine:
Det går fortsatt greit på toktet, men vi har hatt noen utfordringer med isforholdene og har derfor endt opp med en litt alternativ rute. Vi har gått i en bue nord for de planlagte stasjonene og forventer å være tilbake på opprinnelig rute ~ CTD 38C. Vi satt litt fast i Makarovbassenget en periode, men det virker som det går jevnere fremover nå 😊
