Project Grant 2240780

This $379,674 National Science Foundation Division of Polar Programs project grant will fund research into mixotrophic grazing strategies of Antarctic plankton as a means to meet nutritional needs in iron- and manganese-deficient conditions of the Southern Ocean. The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. will conduct culture studies of microalgal isolates from the Southern Ocean to measure growth responses, consumption behavior, and cellular changes in iron and manganese limitation. Transcriptomic analyses will reveal metabolic adaptations to trophic behavior and micronutrient stress. One graduate student, two undergraduate interns, and two early career scientists will be supported. Additionally, the awardee will host a series of virtual coding and bioinformatics workshops for undergraduate students from rural colleges to provide training in basic coding principles and data analysis techniques used in the proposed research. This award supports the National Science Foundation's Polar Programs (CFDA #47.078) by furthering understanding of life in Antarctica and adaptations to the extreme polar environment.