Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Oceans and inland waters are inhabited by a diversity of microorganisms whose metabolic capabilities support these aquatic ecosystems. However, our understanding of how the distribution and activities of microorganisms are affected by environmental conditions is insufficient. This limits our ability to predict how climate change and other pressures may alter microbial communities and the ecosystems that depend on them. This research program aims to address this limitation by investigating the distributions and activities of microorganisms in northern aquatic ecosystems, including the Arctic Ocean, using state-of-the-art genomics-based approaches. The program will produce important insights into microbial responses to ongoing climate change.