Nordic and Greenland Sea sampling of planktic foraminifera for culturing experiments 2022

June 23^rd – 26^th, members of ARCLIM embarked for a scientific cruise into the Norwegian Sea, aimed at sampling living planktic foraminifera (Neogloboquadrina pachyderma and Globigerina bulloides) for culturing experiments. We were joined onboard the R/V Helmer Hanssen by collaborators and researchers from University of Bremen, Aix Marseille University (CNRS), and Galway University. After an initially stormy start, and several stops along route to collect seawater to filter for the different experiments, we reached our first sampling station at ~66.5°N, 7°E. Here we were greeted by an abundance of healthy G. bulloides, and so after a day of continuous plankton net deployment had comfortably collected the requisite number of specimens required and placed them under experimental conditions. There were also several other exciting finds in our nets, including juvenile jellyfish, and bioluminescent algae that sparked electric blue. Before leaving the station, the sediment team enjoyed a late night with the multi-corer, recovering marine cores from around 1000m depth.

For N. pachyderma we needed to seek out colder waters, so headed northwest, towards the Greenland Sea. It became clear our destination was nearing upon waking one morning to a chilly sea fog. The first few attempts with the plankton nets only brought up a few parasite infested specimens, so we kept going until reaching ~70.5°N, 1°E. Here the plankton nets were soon crowded with the neon shades of N. pachyderma, and we rapidly filled the culturing bottles. As if on cue, upon achieving the main objectives of our cruise the weather began to turn, and a new storm rolled in. Heading back east to Tromsø, we managed to keep ahead of the worst of it and arrived at our next station in time to send down another multi-corer before the winds really built up. The whole team joined in with sampling and staining the sediments, in preparation for analysis back in the lab.

The final leg of the journey back to Tromsø went smoothly and our arrival in port was greeted by glorious sunshine and a fresh breeze. The fragrant scent of blueberry blossom wafted across the water, and it seemed that summer had finally arrived during the time we were away. We safely installed the specimens of N. pachyderma and G. bulloides in ARCLIM’s culturing lab, ready for the next stage of the experiments, enjoying being able to observe them under the microscope again without everything flying out of view due to the constant shifting swell.

We are incredibly grateful to the science team and crew of R/V Helmer Hanssen for all their enthusiasm, hard work, and support this summer. They were essential to the success of the cruise, and the culturing experiments that followed.

You can read the Cruise Report here.

Text by Freya E. Sykes.