Ancient CH4 Utilization in Tipping point Ecosystems: The impact of methane seeps and subsea permafrost on methane-oxidizing microbial communities in the Arctic Ocean (ACUTE)

The Arctic Ocean is a hotspot of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas stored in the form of gas hydrates, subsea permafrost, and underlying thermogenic gas. The sizes of these methane deposits are poorly constrained, but even the release of a small fraction could have significant effects on the global climate. The uncertainty is in part linked to microbial processes and especially little is known about aerobic methane oxidation of methane-oxidizing bacteria.The research project’s overarching objective is to investigate the relevance of aerobic methane oxidation for the Arctic by combining biogeochemical parameters with genomic data. The project has three scientific work packages. The first work package will characterize the benthic microbial community, specifically methane-oxidizing bacteria, and link it to methane cycling in the porewater and biomarkers of Siberian Arctic sediments. The second work package investigates the carbon cycling and methane oxidation of methane-oxidizing bacteria in the water column of the Siberian Arctic Ocean. The third work package has an experimental approach to simulate methane release from subsea permafrost and seeps as future tipping point ecosystems.ACUTE is an interdisciplinary project that will significantly advance our understanding of aerobic methane oxidation. This work relies on unique and valuable archived data, which minimizes the environmental impact of my research activities, conforming with the MSCA Green Charter, and significantly contributes to the few studies linking biogeochemistry and microbial communities across the Arctic Ocean. The excellent research facilities and work environment at Stockholm University promote a two-way transfer of knowledge. The generated results will be available through open science practices and of interest beyond the scientific community to policymakers and citizens, especially with rising awareness during the ongoing UN Ocean Decade.