DYNAMITE

DYNAMics of the production and export of aragonITE shells

Planktonic organisms secreting a calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) shell play a key, multi-faceted role in the oceans’ ability to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere. One of the main mineral forms taken by CaCO₃ is called aragonite. Surprisingly little is known about the aragonite cycle in the ocean.

Aragonite is produced in modern oceans by pteropods, heteropods and janthinids, groups of pelagic snails, but the magnitude of this production is not quantified. For example, published estimates of aragonite’s contribution to global CaCO₃ production in the modern ocean cover a very wide range, from 1% to 98%. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of aragonite production is unknown. This project aims to remedy this by bringing together an international group of scientists. Together, these experts will synthesize and compile a unique and comprehensive database to reveal the dynamics of aragonite shell production and export in the world ocean today and over recent decades.

RESEARCHERS

Principal Investigators:

Julie MEILLAND – MARUM, University of Bremen (DE)

Olivier SULPIS – CEREGE (FR)

ouvrir/fermer Participants:

Julie MEILLAND – MARUM, University of Bremen (DE)

Olivier SULPIS – CEREGE (FR)

Sonia CHAABANE – CEREGE (FR) and MPIC (DE)

Deborah WALL-PALMER – Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL)

Katja PEIJNENBURG – University of Amsterdam and Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL)

Fabio BENEDETTI – ETH Zurich (CH)

Nina BEDNARSEK – Oregon State University, CIMERS (USA/SI)

Ralf SCHIEBEL – Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (DE)

Mark OHMAN – Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego (USA)

Clara MANNO – The British Antarctic Survey (UK)

DYNAMITE brings together specialists in taxonomy, ecology, aragonite producers’ biology, marine ecosystems and biogeochemical modelling, carbonate chemistry.

THE PROJECT

DYNAMITE was selected from the 2023 datashare call for proposals. The project selection process was carried out by a committee of independent experts.