LAC · Liquid-aperture Coulter counter for sizing oceanic particles and phytoplankton
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2011-03-01 → 2015-02-28
- EU contribution
- €100,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-IRG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Liquid-aperture Coulter counter for sizing oceanic particles and phytoplankton
Summary description of the project objectives The main objective of this project is to ensure the participation of the PI to a US National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA) project that he helped developing before returning to Europe. The aim of the project is two-fold: 1) to devise an analytical method to directly measure phytoplankton carbon, and 2) to develop a micro-fabricated instrument that can detect chlorophyll fluorescence and count and size oceanic particles over a wide size range. This Marie Curie grant focuses on the second objective and on allowing the participation of the PI to the US project. Description of the work performed since the beginning of the project and main results achieved so far The first and last two years of the project have been dedicated to the construction of the microfluidic device. Dr. Dall'Olmo has actively participated to the project by means of bi-monthly conference calls, two visits to the colleagues in the USA, as well as taking part on a research cruise. Instrument prototypes measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, particle size and concentration have been built and tested both in the laboratory and at sea. Current work at University of Louisville is focusing on increasing the sensitivity of the instrument to meet the project specifications. Expected final results and their potential impact and use When completed, this novel instrument will be able to determine the size distribution of phytoplankton cells and other marine particles. Size is a fundamental cell and particle characteristic and influences a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The size of phytoplankton cells, in addition, is directly related to their carbon biomass, a fundamental variable in the ocean carbon cycle, that is not routinely measured. It is therefore expected that this novel instrument, once completed, will allow us to better understand the ocean carbon cycle and its influences on the Earth's climate.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The size of marine particles controls many oceanic processes that ultimately affect the feedbacks between the ocean carbon cycle and the Earth's system. Among these processes the most significant are perhaps particle settling, aggregation and remineralization, because they modify the efficiency of the biological pump, i.e., the transfer of organic matter from the surface to the deep ocean. Size additionally controls the optical properties of particles that allow us to monitor the ocean carbon cycle from satellite sensors. Finally, the size of living marine particles (e.g., phytoplankton) is proportional to their carbon biomass and regulates many eco-physiological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient uptake and grazing.Despite its relevance, the size distribution of phytoplankton and marine particles is rarely measured in the open ocean, mainly due to limitations in current instrumentation. The main objective of this application is construct a break-through instrument that will exploit novel microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technologies to overcome current instrument limitations and measure the particle and phytoplankton size distributions over an unprecedented range of sizes. The new data will eventually reduce uncertainties in the ocean carbon cycle by, among others, improving estimates of phytoplankton carbon, enhancing our understanding of phytoplankton eco-physiology in-situ and improving our knowledge of sub-micron particles.Dr. Dall'Olmo's chances of reintegrating in the European Union will be significantly improved by participation to this project. This is because, he will be able to capitalize on the newly collected data for continuing publishing in peer-reviewed journals, generating new ideas and proposal applications, as well as establishing new collaborations within and outside the European Union.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY LIMITED · PlymouthCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union