Understanding marine microbial ecosystems

Marine microbial ecosystems contribute to carbon and nitrogen cycles including primary production, organics degradation, and greenhouse gas production such as N2O. Accordingly, it is important to know the diversity and functions of microbial ecosystems to evaluate the state of the ocean and the effects of acidification, global warming, and human activities. However, because of the requirements of a relatively large volume of water in microbial studies it is difficult to obtain a parallel data set with physico-chemical investigations at water column observatories. We have developed a procedure to study microbial diversity and functions from a limited volume of samples to conduct high-resolution sampling in collaboration with physico-chemical observatories.

Water Sampling with a CTD System

Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization (MRU)
Research Center for Bioscience and Nanoscience (CeBN)
Deep-Sea Bioresource Research Group

Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star)
Super-cutting-edge Grand and Advanced Research (SUGAR) Program