A groundbreaking project is underway to explore nitrogen fixation as a new source of nutrients in polar oceans, particularly in the face of climate change and sea-ice melting. As global warming accelerates, light penetration in polar oceans increases, potentially fueling phytoplankton blooms that consume nitrogen. However, the source of nitrogen that supports life in these regions remains uncertain. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating nitrogen fixation by microbes called diazotrophs, an important process in sustaining ocean productivity in low-latitude regions, now also observed in polar oceans.

The project will combine bioinformatics, isotopic techniques, and high-resolution oceanographic measurements to assess the extent of nitrogen fixation in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. Through samples and datasets already collected from these regions, the team will link diazotroph activity with environmental variables such as nutrient levels and hydrography.

The student involved will gain valuable training in next-generation sequencing bioinformatics, stable isotope tracing, and high-resolution biogeochemistry. They will be hosted at the National Oceanography Centre’s renowned OBG group, recognized for its excellence in polar biogeochemical research, and will have opportunities to participate in oceanographic expeditions. This multidisciplinary approach will provide essential insights into the role of nitrogen fixation in polar oceans and its implications for marine ecosystems in a changing climate.