NEW SENTINEL NORTH PROJECT ON BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS AND SEASONAL SYNCHRONISATION IN THE ARCTIC

Top left Johann Lavaud, Top right: David Hazlerigg. Botton left to right: Paul De Koninck, Flavie Lavoie-Cardinal, Shona Wood.

 

Professors David Hazlerigg (UiT, ACP) and Johann Lavaud have been awarded 225,000 CAD for 3 years by the Sentinel North UiT-University of Laval joint scheme. Along with co-investigators Professor Paul De Koninck (Ulaval), Dr. Shona Wood (UiT) and Dr. Flavie Lavoie-Cardinal (Ulaval), they will investigate the role of circadian clocks in seasonal synchrony in two widely divergent Arctic species, the diatom microalga Fragilariopsis cylindrus and the North Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Both species have ecological and economic importance to Canada and Norway. The outputs from this project will help to improve current and future research on Arctic chronobiology with potential applications in health, economics and ecology to Northern populations. The project will improve understanding of the fundamental metabolic processes determining the ecological success of the diatoms as essential primary producers in Artic waters. It will also provide a better understanding of the importance of light and chronobiology for salmonid growth and health. This will help enhance sustainable welfare-friendly production methods and strategies for maintenance of wild populations through management and restocking. This project will also help to develp new light-based tools for sensing and monitoring changing features in ecosystems of the North.

This investment is one of 6 new projects supported by Sentinel North, helping to cement the growing collaboration between the two largest northern research universities in Canada and Norway.

Article contributed by: Shona Wood & David Hazlerigg