Swiss scientists to study microbial life in extreme environments
A four-year, Swiss-led research project on microbes found in glacier-fed streams will kick off on August 1. The researchers hope to better understand the adaptations that allow these organisms to thrive in such extreme conditions, and what it could mean for the environment if they disappear due to climate change.
This content was published on
2 minutes
EPFL/cl
Expertise in ecology, biogeochemistry, molecular biology, and glaciology will be needed to understand the impact of warming temperatures on glacier-dwelling microbes and their environments.
Keystone
The international research team, led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), will pluck viscous samples of microorganisms called biofilms from streams in the world’s largest mountain glacier systems, including the Himalayas, the Andes, Greenland, Scandinavia, Pamir, Kamchatka, Caucasus, New Zealand and the European Alps.
This content was published on
Switzerland might seem an odd place for a summit on polar studies. But with its high mountains, it is part of the “third pole” after North and South.
The researchers will study the genomes of these organisms to understand how they have adapted to their unhospitable habitats over time. They also hope to gain insight into the impacts of glacier melt on the microbes, and the effects their disappearance could have on glacier ecosystems like those found in the Swiss Alps.
“Glaciers and their streams have often been abundant on Earth. But today they are vanishing as a result of climate change. Glaciologists predict that 50% of the small glaciers in Switzerland will disappear within the next 25 years. The same holds true for their glacier-fed streams – and the ecosystems those streams support. We owe it to future generations to better understand the microbial life in these vanishing ecosystems,” said project leader Tom BattinExternal link of EPFL’s Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory.
In the future, Battin hopes to establish an archive for glacier microbe DNA at the EPFL Valais-Wallis campus to provide a global repository for genetic information on these unique organisms, which can be studied further as gene sequencing technology advances.
The scientists, who will begin training for their field work this summer in the Swiss Alps, plan to embark on their first expedition in February 2019.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Researchers use tree rings to confirm climate change-avalanche link
This content was published on
University of Geneva researchers have found that rising temperatures are increasing avalanche frequency, size and scope in the Himalayas.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.