Every year in spring and fall, the number of plankton in oceans rapidly increases, causing what鈥檚 called an "algal bloom." For fish in the very earliest stages of life, these blooms are a nutritional feast necessary for growth.
As a primary producer in the marine food web, plankton and other microbes play a crucial role supporting life underwater. When fish eggs are released into the water they drift among plankton with the ocean currents. Eventually the eggs hatch into larvae that depend on plankton in the algal bloom to grow.
鈥淭he timing of these blooms in is critical for larval fish to survive,鈥� explains , Canada Research Chair in Marine Microbial Genomics and Biogeochemistry and professor in Dal鈥檚 Department of Biology. 鈥淚f the plankton blooms too fast and the larval fish aren鈥檛 ready, then they won鈥檛 be able to access food.鈥�
Changing ocean conditions, like warmer temperatures, may affect the timing of blooms and lead to consequences on fish populations in the area. Besides that, commercial activity in the Atlantic creates emphasizes the need to learn more about the state of plankton.
Recently announced funding now allows Dr. LaRoche and her team to gather and analyze data on plankton dynamics in Nova Scotia鈥檚 coastal waters.
Coming together for ocean research
Earlier this week, Dal-headquartered (MEOPAR) and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) were in Ottawa to .
鈥淚rving Shipbuilding鈥檚 $1-million contribution in support of progressive, coast-to-coast-to-coast marine research highlights the importance of effective industry and academic partnerships,鈥� said MEOPAR Scientific Director and Dal鈥檚 Canada Excellence Research Chair Doug Wallace.
鈥淎s a result of their investment, MEOPAR contributed $800,000 to support these nine research projects, which also leveraged a further $2 million from 27 contributing partners. We鈥檙e proud to partner with Irving Shipbuilding on this important research.鈥�
Dr. LaRoche received $150,000 from that pool of funding. It will help support a new postdoctoral student, two undergraduate student researchers and six co-op students required for the project.
Ocean research on commercial vessels
The LaRoche Research Group will examine what conditions are at play when plankton blooms occur between mainland Nova Scotia and Sable Island. Collecting and analyzing samples of the water is required for this work. Until now, the team has only been able to do that twice a year. While helpful, that鈥檚 just not enough to get a clear picture of what鈥檚 happening.
Enter Atlantic Towing Ltd. The Atlantic Canadian company has voluntarily provided Dr. LaRoche鈥檚 team with access and facilities on the Atlantic Condor, a resupply ship that makes weekly trips to the Deep Panuke drilling platform near Sable Island.
鈥淲ith Atlantic Towing, we鈥檙e going to get weekly data for a whole year,鈥� says Dr. Laroche. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be really amazing to see how conditions change that frequently. This allows us to create a far more accurate picture of what is happening in the ocean.鈥�
The Atlantic Condor. (MEOPAR photo)
Dr. LaRoche鈥檚 research instrumentation on board includes a state-of-the-art underwater holographic from Halifax-based company 4-Deep Inwater Imaging. The technology, designed with research conducted in Dal physics labs, will allow researchers to capture detailed images of the plankton present in water during these weekly trips.
鈥淓very five minutes during the trips, we鈥檒l collect several megabytes of data,鈥� says Dr. LaRoche. 鈥淚f we can do this every year, we鈥檒l get an idea of what coordinates these blooming events鈥� that鈥檒l be very important information for managing fisheries.鈥�
Dr. LaRoche鈥檚 instrumentation joins a suite of oceanographic sensors on board the Atlantic Condor. In addition to benefitting her team, the total instrumentation package will contribute data to Dr. Wallace鈥檚 group and other projects through MEOPAR and (IORE).
鈥淐ollaborating with industry to leverage commercial ships for research will dramatically improve our ability to collect frequent, continuous data from the ocean,鈥� says Dr. LaRoche.
Irving Shipbuilding contributed $1 million to the $1.8 million call for proposals. ISI鈥檚 funding is pursuant to its Value Proposition obligation under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, whereby Irving Shipbuilding is committed to spending 0.5% of contract revenues with the aim of creating a sustainable marine industry across Canada.