Linked projects

In this highly multidisciplinary project, laboratory approaches, studies at sea and modelling approaches are combined to answer various questions related to the life cycle of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. In particular we aim to i) understand the endogenous mechanisms that control the diatom life cycle (what are the signal transduction mechanisms? What are the gene networks involved? Is there an epigenetic control in the transitions between the life cycle phases?); ii) follow the natural populations at sea through population genomics, in order to understand the genetic structure but also the dynamics of genome evolution; iii) estimate how much the genetic diversification processes are guided by environmental factors, how much genetic diversity is the result of the neutral interaction between cell division, genetic mutation and recombination, and what is the expected effect of environmental perturbations on rates of division, mutation and recombination.

MicroplastiX is an international interdisciplinary project bringing together 15 partners from 7 countries. The main goal of the project is to improve our understanding of the degradation mechanisms that affect microplastics (MPs) in environmental conditions, an issue of pressing urgency on which there is still relatively scarce information.

The EU-funded AtlantECO project aims to develop and apply a novel, unifying framework that provides knowledge-based resources for a better understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystem services.
AtlantECO will engage with citizens and actors from the industry and policy sectors in order to stimulate responsible behaviour and Blue Growth.
The project focuses on three pillars of research: microbiomes, plastic and the plastisphere, and seascape connectivity.
In pursuit of this goal, AtlantECO is bringing together experts and pioneers from Europe, South America and South Africa with the relevant resources, knowledge and experience.