Exploring the Expansion of Ocean Deserts: Can Diazotrophs Save the Day?
Scientists at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are embarking on a groundbreaking five-year project to tackle the alarming growth of ocean deserts—vast areas of the ocean lacking in life and nutrients. With the support of a generous USD$3.5 million (£2.6 million) European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant, this research aims to investigate whether microscopic organisms known as diazotrophs could potentially slow down or even reverse this worrying trend.
The Rise of Ocean Deserts
Subtropical gyres, commonly referred to as “ocean deserts,” currently occupy over 60% of the ocean’s surface. These expansive regions are rapidly expanding at a rate of five million square kilometers per decade—an area equivalent to the Amazon Rainforest or the entire European Union. As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are increasingly concerned about the long-term consequences of this expansion on marine ecosystems and the planet’s climate. A decrease in ocean productivity could have a profound impact on marine food webs and disrupt the ocean’s crucial role as a carbon sink.
The EXPAND Project
The new project, aptly named EXPAND, will focus its efforts on the Indian Ocean subtropical gyre, which remains one of the least understood ocean deserts. Collaborating with partners from France, the USA, Canada, and South Africa, the NOC-led research team aims to shed light on the drivers behind the expansion of ocean deserts and explore the potential of biological nitrogen fixation to counteract these effects.
Dr. Mar Benavides, senior scientist at NOC and lead investigator of the project, underscores the urgency of unraveling the mysteries surrounding ocean desert expansion. By uncovering the intricate relationship between nitrogen fixation and marine productivity, the EXPAND project seeks to refine climate change models and enhance predictions of how marine ecosystems respond to environmental shifts. Ultimately, this research could offer valuable insights into mitigating the impact of climate change on our oceans.
Expeditions and Innovations
As part of the EXPAND project, researchers will conduct two expeditions aboard the research vessel Marion Dufresne. These expeditions will bring together experts in biogeochemistry, microbiology, physical oceanography, and ocean engineering to collect vital data from the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the project will utilize innovative automated ocean observing equipment developed by NOC to monitor diazotroph activity and diversity throughout an entire year, enabling continuous data collection even when researchers are not at sea.
Collaborative Partnerships
The EXPAND project boasts partnerships with esteemed institutions such as the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the French Institute of Research for Development, the Universities of California Santa Cruz and of Maryland (USA), India’s Physical Research Laboratory, and the University of La Réunion and the University of Cape Town (South Africa). Additionally, EXPAND has garnered support as an endorsed project of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2), the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research project (IMBeR), and the International Study of the Marine Biogeochemical Cycles of Trace Elements and Their Isotopes (GEOTRACES).
With the EXPAND project at the forefront of oceanographic research, the quest to understand and address the expansion of ocean deserts takes a significant step forward. By harnessing the potential of diazotrophs and cutting-edge technology, this collaborative effort holds promise for the future of our oceans and the planet as a whole.