Climate change, microbes and the marine environment

The Baltic Sea is affected by the climate change in all levels, from microbes to economical and societal value. We use diatoms as model species. Some of the research topics are:

• Genetic patterns in diatoms, with associated functional diversity. This helps us to assess evolutionary response to global change.
• Do genes show signs of adaptation in relation to documented changes in environmental conditions?
• How will the species range of S. marinoi be affected by the ongoing Global Change, taking into account its genetic variability and adaptation potential?

We are developing methodology and projecting future species distribution, and use different approaches for studying genetic diversity and adaptation.

Contacts: Teppo Hiltunen (teppo.hiltunen@utu.fi) and Conny Sjöqvist (conny.sjoqvist@abo.fi)