Life in the oceans is supported by an abundance of microscopic algae and bacteria that synthesize organic compounds and recycle them within the lower trophic levels, respectively. The activity of these microorganisms also influences the movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) between oceans and the atmosphere [1], which is an important function given the rising CO2 emissions that are currently driving a warming trend of the global climate [2]. In particular, the polar regions are warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, and the resulting impact on cryosphere systems is substantial [3; 4]. Changes in sea ice volume, seasonality and coverage in the Arctic Ocean are particularly concerning for specialized algae and bacteria that inhabit sea ice [5; 6].The uncertain response of these vulnerable sea ice algae and bacteria to environmental change has been the focus of my research. This has involved method development to quantify abundance and productivity, field-based process studies to assess biological-physical coupling, and stressor experiments on ice algae cultures to target species-specific responses. I am also interested in the composition of microbial communities and how this varies with growth conditions characteristic of different ice habitats. This involves taxonomic identification of sea ice algae, as well as collaborations (eg Sanchez-Baracaldo laboratory Bristol, UK) to complete metagenomic analyses.
References : [1] Falkowski et al. 1998, Science, 200-206; [2] Graverson et al., 2008, Nature Lett. 53-57; [3] Hansen et al., 2010, Reviews Geophys. RG4004; [4] Screen and Simmonds, 2010, Nature Lett. 1334-1337; [5] Vihma et al., 2014, Surv. Geophys. 1175-1214; [6] Leu et al., 2015, Prog. Oceanogr. 151-170.
Keywords : sea ice, algae, bacteria, production, phycology, climate change, biogeochemistry
Ongoing Projects:
2025-2030
Microbial life of Sea ice Habitats Investigated For The Arctic (Micro-SHIFT), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (Principal Investigator)
2021-2026
Bottom-sea ice Respiration and nutrient Exchanges Assessed for THE Arctic (BREATHE), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (Principal Investigator) https://breathearctic.com
2024-2027
Weddell Sea Observatory of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Change (WOBEC), Alfred Wegener Institute (Investigator), https://wobec.aq/
2023-2028
Impact of CRYosphere Melting Southern Ocean Ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles (ICRYME), Norwegian Polar Insitute (WP lead)
In the news:
https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/18223727/uit-forskere-mottar-prestisjefylt-eu-stipend?publisherId=17847822&lang=no
https://nautil.us/the-secret-life-of-the-north-pole-264093/?fbclid=IwAR2DqPjB3AQCJ5-uv91ESGxCE334vsvDSuWgy3Flfnc0anRAFMr1fSpcx-4
https://www.mccip.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/Impacts%20of%20Climate%20Change%20on%20Arctic%20Sea%20Ice.pdf
Selection of Recent Work :
Stroeve, J, et al. (2024), 'Mapping Potential Timing of Ice Algal Blooms From Satellite', GRL, doi:10.1029/2023GL106486
Campbell, K, et al. (2022), 'Net heterotrophy in High Arctic first-year and multi-year spring sea ice'. Elementa Science of the Anthropocene ', 10 (1), 00040.
Lannuzel, D, Tedesco, L, Leeuwe M, Campbell, K et al. (2020), 'The future of Arctic sea-ice biogeochemistry and ice-associated ecosystems'. Nature Climate Change, vol 10, pp 983–992.
Campbell, K, Mundy, C, Belize, C, Aurelie, D and S Rysgaard (2018), 'Seasonal dynamics of algal and bacterial communities in Arctic sea ice under variable snow cover'. Polar Biology, vol 41, pp 41-58.
