Northern and Southern ice-covered seas are playing a key role in the regulation of the earth's climate and biological resources.

In order to better assess and predict this role, ESA polar research focuses on mechanisms determining the structure and functioning of the marine and sea-ice microbial network and the related impact on the carbon, iron and sulphur cycles interactions between the atmosphere, sea ice and the ocean.

This research is conducted in the scope of the BELCANTO and SIBCLIM projects.

Publications:

Becquevort S, I Dumont, J-L Tison, D Lannuzel, M-L Sauvée, L Chou, V Schoemann. 2009. Biogeochemistry and microbial community composition in sea ice and underlying seawater off East Antarctica during early spring. Polar Biology. 32 (6): 879-895.

Becquevort S. & Smith W.O.Jr. 2001. Aggregation, sedimentation and biodegradability of phytoplankton-derived material during spring in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Deep Sea Research II: 4155-4178
Billen, G. & Becquevort, S., 1991. Phytoplankton-bacteria relationship in the Antarctic marine ecosystem, Polar Res., 10 : 245-263.

Billen, G. & Lancelot, C., 1992. The functioning of the Antarctic Marine Ecosystem. A fragile Equilibrium. In : The Antarctic Environment and International Law, J. Verhoeven, P. Sands, M. Bruce, ed., p. 39-51.

Dehairs, F., Lancelot, C., Andre, L., Frankignoulle, M., Deleersnijder, E., Becquevort, S., Cardinal, D., Cattaldo, T., Delille, B., Elskens, M., Fagel, N., Goosse, H., Navez, J., Probst, G., Schoemann, V. 2003. An Integrated Approach to Assess Carbon dynamics in the Southern Ocean. BELCANTO. In Marine Biota and Global Change report (1997-2001). OSTC publications pp59-160.

Goeyens L., Tréguer P., Lancelot C., Mathot S., Becquevort S., Morvan J., Dehairs F. & Baeyens W. 1991. Ammonium regenration in the Scotia-Weddell confluence area during spring 1988. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 78: 241-252.

Hannon, E., Boyd, P.W., Silvoso, M., & C. Lancelot. 2001. Modeling the bloom evolution and carbon flows during SOIREE: Implications for future in situ iron-enrichments in the southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Research-II 48: 2745-2773.

Lancelot, C., Veth, C. & Mathot, S., 1991. Modelling ice edge phytoplankton bloom in the Scotia Weddell Sea sector of the Southern Ocean during spring 1988. Journ.Mar.Syst, 2 : 333-346.

Lancelot, C., Billen, G., Veth, C., Becquevort, S. & Mathot, S., 1991. Modelling carbon cycling through phytoplankton and microbes in the Scotia Weddell Sea area during sea ice retreat. Marine Chemistry, 35 (1-4) : 305-324.

Lancelot C., Mathot S., Veth C. & deBaar H. 1993. Factors controlling phytoplankton ice-edge blooms in the marginal ice-zone of the northwestern Weddell Sea during sea ice retrat 1988: field observations and mathematical modelling. Polar Biology. 13: 337-387.

Lancelot C., Hannon E., Becquevort S., Veth C. and H. J. W. de Baar. 2000. Modeling phytoplankton blooms and carbon export production in the Southern Ocean: Dominant controls by light and iron of the Atlantic sector in Autral spring 1992. Deep Sea Research-I, 47 : 1621-1662.