Microbial connectivity in a changing Arctic
What is the motivation?
Microbes are key drivers of biogeochemical cycles, influencing nutrient turnover and ecosystem resilience. Yet their ecological dynamics and connectivity across Arctic habitats remain poorly understood. This project aims to clarify how microbes move between habitats, contribute to biogeochemical cycles and adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
© Lucie Malard
Why does it matter?
Understanding the dynamics of microbial communities across the Arctic’s diverse habitats is essential for predicting how ecosystems will respond to rapid climate change. The urgency is high: the Arctic is warming more than three times faster than the global average, accelerating glacier melt, sea-ice loss and shifts in both terrestrial and marine systems. These changes will strongly affect microbial communities, with cascading consequences for ecosystem stability and biogeochemical cycles. MICRO-CASCADES will provide insights into the resilience of Arctic ecosystems under future climate conditions.
Project Focus
MICRO-CASCADES investigates the connectivity, dormancy and functional potential of microbial communities across atmospheric, terrestrial, glacial and marine environments in Northwest Greenland. The project examines how microbial communities shift across these systems in response to climate-driven environmental gradients. It also evaluates the exposure and vulnerability of microbes to future climatic scenarios, forecasting potential responses and identifying both sensitive taxa and key ecosystem functions at risk.
How will it be done?
Samples will be collected from soil, glacial ice, glacial meltwater, ocean surface water and aerosols to assess microbial connectivity across Arctic habitats using DNA sequencing technologies. The study considers not only bacteria but also fungal, protist and viral communities to provide a comprehensive view of diversity and connectivity. Modelling approaches will be used to project how microbial communities may respond to future environmental conditions under different climate scenarios, anticipating shifts in community composition and functional capacity.
What will be collected?
Soil, glacial ice, glacial meltwater, ocean surface water and air samples will be collected throughout the expedition. Environmental variables such as pH, temperature and meteorological conditions will also be measured.
Members and partners
- Principal Investigator:
- Lucie Malard – Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Other participants:
- Chiara Mazioux – Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Partners:
- Catherine Girard – Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, University of Laval, Québec City, Canada
- James Bradley – Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography in Marseille, Marseille, France
- Antoine Guisan – Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Olivier Broennimann – Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland