Spatio-temporal distribution of bioluminescent plankton in the Mediterranean Sea

• Grant number: 25/14685-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 05, 2026
• End date: July 04, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Elisabete de Santis Braga da Graça Saraiva
• Grantee: Gabriella Ferreira de Andrade
• Supervisor: Severine Martini
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institut Méditerranéen D'Océanologie, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/17699-1 - Evaluation of the toxicity of the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and petroleum derivatives in the marine environment using the bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis as a bioindicator, BP.MS

Abstract

Marine bioluminescence is a fundamental ecological mechanism in pelagic ecosystems, especially in the aphotic zones of the water column, where the absence of sunlight makes the emission of photons by organisms a privileged means of communication, predation, and defense. It is estimated that between the surface and 4000 meters depth, about 75% of marine fauna is capable of emitting light, which highlights bioluminescence as a biological signature still underexplored from an oceanographic perspective, with potential use as a bioindicator tool in environmental monitoring programs. Analyzing its spatio-temporal distribution is strategic for understanding ecological processes, trophic interactions, and biogeochemical cycles, particularly in the mesopelagic zone, where the dynamics of bioluminescent plankton directly influence the flows of matter and energy in the ocean. In this context, the present project aims to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of bioluminescent plankton in the water column of the Mediterranean Sea, correlating it with relevant environmental variables such as salinity and temperature. This proposal is part of the international BIOLUMOPS project, which aims to map and characterize marine bioluminescence in the northwestern Mediterranean using autonomous underwater gliders equipped with high-resolution optical sensors. During the internship, participation in an oceanographic campaign in the Gulf of Lion is planned, scheduled to take place between March and April 2026, aboard the French research vessel R/V Atalante. Activities will include support for glider operations, collection of environmental parameters, and plankton sampling down to 600 meters depth. In parallel, laboratory activities will be conducted at the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO), including morphological analysis of phytoplankton using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and zooplankton image classification using the EcoTaxa platform. Participation in a specialized course on EcoTaxa at the Laboratoire de Villefranche-sur-Mer is also planned, promoted and funded by the host supervisor. Environmental data, such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen and nutrients, will be integrated with biological data for multivariate statistical analyses, using tools such as Python and Microsoft Excel, in order to investigate correlations between the occurrence of bioluminescent plankton and in situ environmental variables. The project will be coordinated by Dr. Séverine Martini and conducted under the supervision of Dr. Valérie Michotey, Director of the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO). This opportunity represents a unique scientific and educational experience, especially due to the participation in an oceanographic cruise dedicated to the study of bioluminescence - a singular and highly relevant experience for expanding the understanding of the organisms studied in the current master's project, which has so far been limited to the laboratory environment. By integrating data collected directly in the marine environment with experimental analyses, it will be possible to establish more robust connections between bioluminescence as an ecological response and the environmental factors that modulate it. Furthermore, the international internship will promote knowledge exchange and methodological enhancement, contributing to the development of innovative approaches in ecotoxicology and ocean observation, with applications in both research and marine environmental management. (AU)