Interests

Sea Ice

Science Specialties

algae, aquatic microbiology, biological oceanography

Current Research

Exopolymeric substances (EPS), secreted in the form of mucous slime by aquaticmicroorganisms, are known to play important roles in marine ecosystems. We investigate their potential to alter the microstructure of the sea-ice habitat and to serve as cryoprotectants for microorganisms dwelling therein. The research is motivated by our findings of surprisingly high concentrations of EPS in wintertime Arctic sea ice, in combination with microscopicobservations implying potential benefits to the survival of bacteria and microalgae at very low temperatures (-15¡C and below) in the pore system of sea ice.