ANR-IRONWOMAN
RESEARCH
Main areas of interest
Sampling, in situ experimentation
Instrumentation
For this project, we are working on two deep-sea observatory sites that are part of a European network (European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water column Observatory, EMSO). This observatory status allows us to have recurrent sampling on these two sites of iron-rich mats and surrounding fluids, as well as geophysical and oceanographic monitoring of the sites. For both sites we started sampling and in situ experiments in 2018..
To be continued...
Characterization of environmental conditions
To understand the impact of the environment on the functioning of iron-rich mats, it is important to characterize the chemistry of the fluids and gases that surround them, be it seawater, hydrothermal fluids, or the mixture between the two.
To be continued...
Biological characterization of mats (Omics)
We are working on DNA, RNA and proteins extracted from iron-rich mats, to find out who is there (DNA and 16S rRNA Metabarcoding), the potential metabolisms (Metagenome), who does what (RNA and Metatranscriptome), the biological activity (Proteins)
To be continued...
Metabolic pathways of iron acquisition
Ex situ cultures
To further our knowledge of the Fe-oxidizing bacteria that are at the basis of the iron-rich mats, we will carry out cultures in the laboratory under different conditions and, among other things, study the mechanisms of acquisition and use of iron by these bacteria.
To be continued...