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Stable Isotope and Biochemical Characterization of Arctic Planktonic Food Webs (BIO-ICE)
IADC_id: 815
active
Call year: 2026
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The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid physical and biogeochemical transformations due to climate change, affecting the structure, productivity, and contaminant dynamics of marine food webs. Phytoplankton and zooplankton play a pivotal role in Arctic ecosystems as primary drivers of carbon fluxes and as entry points for contaminants into higher trophic levels. Despite growing evidence of shifting plankton communities under warming and freshening conditions, comprehensive size-fractionated analyses of their biochemical and isotopic composition remain scarce at high latitudes.Building upon the methodological framework of B?naru et al. (2023) in the Mediterranean Sea, this study aims to transfer and adapt that integrated approach to the Arctic environment. By combining biochemical profiling, stable isotope ratios (?¹³C, ?¹?N) and modeling techniques, we aim to elucidate the trophic structure and energy transfer processes within Arctic planktonic food webs and assess their role in the biological pump and contaminant transfer. Objectives 1. Characterize Arctic phyto- and zooplankton communities across multiple size-fractions to define their trophic structure and position within the food web 2. Determine carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (?¹³C, ?¹?N) to infer trophic levels and sources of organic matter. 3. Assess spatial variability in trophic structure between coastal and offshore Arctic stations. 4. Investigate the implications of trophic and biochemical gradients for the accumulation and transfer of contaminants (e.g., microplastics, persistent and emerging organic pollutants). Sampling Strategy • In situ pumps and MultiNet samplers will be used to collect suspended particulate matter and plankton along a transect from the inner fjord to offshore waters. • Samples will be size-fractionated into the following classes: 0.7–2.7 µm, 2.7–20 µm, 20–60 µm (phytoplankton fractions) and 60–200 µm, 200–500 µm, 500–1000 µm, 1000–2000 µm, and >2000 µm (zooplankton fractions). Stable Isotope Analyses • ?¹³C and ?¹?N of particulate organic matter (POM) and zooplankton will be measured via continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. • ?¹?N trophic fractionation factors will be applied to estimate trophic levels (TL) and assess the isotopic baseline variability driven by ice melt and freshwater input. Data Analysis • Mixing models (MixSIAR, R environment) will be used to estimate relative contributions of phytoplankton fractions to zooplankton diets. • Statistical analyses (ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, correlation matrices) will test spatial and size-related differences. Persistent and Emerging organic pollutant analysis • Selected classes of organic contaminants (i.e., pharmaceuticals and personal care products- PPCPs, and phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (4-NP; BPA etc.) will be analysed by high resolution liquid chromatography in abiotic (water and suspended matter) and biotic samples. 5. Expected Outcomes • A comprehensive baseline of isotopic and biochemical characteristics of Arctic planktonic size-fractions. • Quantitative insights into trophic pathways in a rapidly changing polar ecosystem. • Assessment of vulnerability of Arctic food webs to contaminant biomagnification, through the integration of isotopic tracers and contaminant analyses. Expected Impact This project will provide one of the first size-fractionated biochemical and isotopic characterizations of Arctic plankton, contributing to understanding carbon and contaminant fluxes under climate-induced changes.
National/International Cooperation:
ISPRA, ISP-CNR, BAS
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