A new twist in the global carbon cycle: the role of photoheterotrophy in the ocean University of Southampton – National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
This studentship would be suitable for someone with a background in any natural science or mathematics.In the ocean the word photosynthesis is generally used in a very narrow sense: the use of sunlight energy to assist the fixation of inorganic carbon. It is a much more general phenomenon, however, with growing evidence that harvested light energy may be put to many more purposes.
Specifically, there is evidence that the most numerically abundant organisms in the ocean (SAR11 alphaproteobacteria and Prochlorococcus cyanobacteria) use light energy to convert organic compounds, taken up from the ambient water, into biomass. The strategy of light-powered use of organic rather than inorganic building blocks is described by the term photoheterotrophy.
The ocean plays a major role in the global carbon cycle with marine plankton converting roughly as much atmospheric carbon dioxide to new plant material as all land plants each year. The low nutrient (oligotrophic) regions of the world’s oceans, where the above organisms are most abundant, account for roughly half of this marine ‘primary production’ due to their great expanse.
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These areas and organisms consequently play a major role in marine and global biogeochemical cycling.
This project will use mathematical modelling to investigate the competitive advantage conferred on SAR11 and Prochlorococcus by photoheterophy and the consequences for the global carbon cycle.
The studentship will run for 3 years and will provide support at standard NERC rates (currently £12,000 p.a.) as well as pay UK/EU tuition fees. Funding has been secured but is only available for EU nationals who have resided in the UK for the last 3 years.
The studentship is linked to a broader marine heterotrophy project, involving field and laboratory based work, being run by Prof. Mike Zubkov who will also be a co-supervisor of the PhD project. There is potential for the student to obtain cruise experience.
Enquiries should be made to Dr Adrian Martin. Tel: +44 (0)23 80 59 6342 or Email: apm1@noc.soton.ac.uk
How to apply:
Please use the following link…
The closing date for this position is 9 July 2010, (please ignore any deadlines shown on the web site for this particular studentship). The starting date is flexible.
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