Title: Understanding the Oceanic Methane Paradox: a Microbial Approach

Supervisors: Drs. Angela Hatton, Kevin Purdy, Arlene Rowan & Mark Hart 

Methane is an environmentally relevant gas, second only to carbon dioxide in its importance as a potent greenhouse gas. It is also known to play a vital role in the global cycling of carbon. The world's oceans represent an important natural source of methane, however, despite its global significance we know relatively little about oceanic methane production. Evidence suggests that in the oxygenated surface waters a portion of the methane comes from in situ production, however that seems to contradict all we know about methanogenesis; a strictly anaerobic process. This phenomenon has been termed the ‘oceanic methane paradox’. To explain this, it has been suggested that anoxic micro-sites may exist within zooplankton, their excreted faecal pellets and sedimenting material which may support methanogenic populations. Work at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has not only shown that methanogens exist in microsites but that they are viable. The aim of this studentship is to better understand how and why methanogens, the key organisms involved in carbon cycling under anaerobic conditions, exist and remain viable in the oxygenated upper oceans. A range of techniques are available to address these important and timely questions including culture-independent analysis (DNA extraction, PCR, DGGE & cloning and sequencing), microscopy, gas chromatography, and process study techniques, all of which are available at SAMS. Culture-based methods will also be employed to help elucidate this though the collaboration with Kevin Purdy at Warwick University.

For a copy of the application form please click here.

Applications should be submitted with a CV and a covering letter to education@sams.ac.uk

Deadline for applications is 17th September 2010