Sedimentary ancient DNA - a new proxy to investigate the impact of environmental change on past and present biodiversity in Nordic Seas.

About this project

<p>To realize the project, we will analyse water and sediment samples collected near Svalbard, at east Greenland<br> shelf and Jan Mayen shelf. The sedaDNA will be extracted from 6 cores from the same area, four of which<br> have already been collected. A total eukaryotic eDNA will be analysed using 5 molecular markers, spanning a<br> large range of taxa, from phyto- and zooplankton to zoobenthos and benthic foraminifera. More than 80 million<br> of DNA sequences will be obtained for each marker using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology.<br> Their analyses will provide information about the transfer of DNA from the surface to the sediments and its<br> downcore preservation. In parallel, geochemical and palaeoceanographic data will be collected in order to date<br> and characterize the core layers, from which sedaDNA samples have been obtained. The planned analyses<br> will include radiocarbon 14C, 210Pb and 137Cs dating, stable isotopes and Mg/Ca in benthic foraminifers,<br> sediment grain-size distribution, TC and TOC, alkenones, IP25, and dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. These<br> proxies will provide a complete set of information about paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes that will<br> be compared to the changes of eukaryotic diversity inferred from sedaDNA sequence data.<br> Our project will provide a unique insight into the impact of climate change on Nordic Seas biodiversity focusing<br> on its most inconspicuous but ecologically essential microbial and meiofaunal components. We will use<br> sedaDNA as a new promising palaeoceanographic proxy complementary to the traditionally used microfossils.<br> The innovative character of the project consists in integrating multitaxon analysis of sedaDNA with the existing<br> palaeoceanographic proxies in order to reconstruct changes in eukaryotic biodiversity during the postglacial<br> period. By analyzing millions of DNA sequences archived in the sediments we expect shedding new light on<br> the relationship between global warming, biodiversity changes and carbon burial.<br> &nbsp;</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The bilateral collaboration within the project is well visible and satisfactory. Namely, in the aftermath of the project three joint research papers have been published (please note that six joint papers were declared in project indices). Also, two joint proposals for further funding have been elaborated.

Project partners

• Norwegian Research Center AS Donor project partner· Norway