The effect of temperature on North Sea seaweeds

Marine ecosystems are being challenged by global climate change. Rising temperatures may change the nutrient uptake kinetics as well as the cellular composition of seaweeds. The main aim of this research is to investigate the nutrient uptake kinetics and cellular composition of the North Sea seaweeds in relation to temperature. We will use different species of North Sea seaweeds, native and invasive ones, and different ecotypes of a single species. We will assess impacts by physiological and chemical parameters, such as growth rate, dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, protein-, carbohydrate-, and lipid- concentrations. Understanding the effect of temperature on seaweeds has significance in predicting the likelihood of survival of seaweeds during global warming.

We seek HBO or university students, interested in ecologically experimental design for seaweeds culture and with a great interest in physiology and ecology of seaweeds. The work will consist of doing/participating in experiments with seaweeds, collecting samples for physical, chemical, or biological measurements, interpreting of the experimental results. The work will be done at NIOZ-Yerseke, we have a guesthouse at Yerseke.

Contact

For more information and to apply, please contact PhD student Xiaowei Ding (xiaowei.ding@nioz.nl) or
Prof. Dr. Klaas Timmermans (Klaas.Timmermans@nioz.nl). 

Relevant publications

Lubsch A, Timmermans K R. Uptake kinetics and storage capacity of dissolved inorganic phosphorus and corresponding dissolved inorganic nitrate uptake in Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyceae). Journal of phycology, 2019, 55(3): 637-650.

Nepper-Davidsen J, Andersen D T, Pedersen M F. Exposure to simulated heatwave scenarios causes long-term reductions in performance in Saccharina latissima. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2019, 630: 25-39.