its entire expanse. The genomic data of the microbes in the samples was then recorded, along with other parameters such as temperature, salinity and levels of inorganic nutrients. Microbial processes such as nitrogen fixation and growth were also measured, allowing the researchers to link specific microbial genes with the processes that they carry out. Large-scale seawater experiments were also carried out to see how the microbes present reacted to different environmental conditions or pollutants.


The piecing together of this data, along with the use of state-of-the-art modelling techniques, has culminated in the virtual Blueprint Competence Centre, which was established under the leadership of project co-PI Matthias Labrenz (Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde). This publicly available resource can be found


at blueprint-project.org. It


describes exactly how to take a seawater sample from the Baltic Sea, extract the DNA and RNA, and then analyse and sequence it to give a prediction of the environmental conditions of the location from which the sample was taken.


Now that the team has proof of principle of


the coupling between metagenomic


data of microbes and environmental conditions, they are keen to proceed with further work. One important line of study will be gathering further data from selected sites in the Baltic for an extended period of time to act as a benchmark, as Labrenz explains: “For indicators of


environmental status which are currently in use it is possible to look back through decades of data to compare with the present,” he says. “Of course, this is not possible with our method, as it has only just been invented! Gathering more temporal data in this way will be a crucial step towards turning our method into a fully functioning monitoring tool.”


The team are proposing to collect data over five years from sites in the northern and southern Baltic Sea, and they are now


looking for funding to make this a reality. This would provide them with the time series of data that would further refine genetic analyses as a useful tool in environmental monitoring. This databank of “historical” data would build upon the proof


of principle they have project into a already


provided, and further develop the pioneering work done in the BONUS BLUEPRINT


fully


functioning monitoring tool that will help to safeguard the fragile ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.


★ AT A GLANCE


Matthias Labrenz Matthias Labrenz is a microbiologist and has long-standing experience in the study of microbial compositions and microbial lifestyles in different habitats of the Baltic Sea.


CONTACT: Email: matthias.labrenz@ io-warnemuende.de


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