FEBRUARY 23, 2024
EVENT
The YESSS Project Kicks Off in Bremerhaven
The Arctic is known for its harsh winters and long periods of darkness. But even in the absence of sunlight, life thrives in this corner of the world. How do creatures survive, forage, and even reproduce during these challenging months?
This is the question at the heart of our research project called YESSS – Year-round Ecosystem Study on Svalbard. Launched in February 2024 at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven. YESSS brings together researchers from seven universities and research institutions across Germany. The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with a grant of 2.7 million Euros, will run until the end of 2026.
The three-day kick-off meeting connected experts in all the fields involved, each bringing unique perspectives to the study of Arctic ecosystems. Our efforts are aimed to unravel the intricate web of life that persists in the Svalbard archipelago during the long, dark winter.
YESSS is not just about scientific discovery; it’s about sharing those discoveries with the world. The project team recognizes the critical role of outreach and engagement, especially among young audiences. By sharing the latest findings and highlighting the importance of polar research, YESSS aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and foster a greater understanding of our changing planet.
Stay tuned for updates on our website and social media as we delve deeper into the world of Arctic ecosystems and the challenges they face in a warming climate.
Scientists Involved
PROF. DR LAURA EPP
University of Konstanz, Limnological Institute, Department of Biology
Role in YESSS: Lead of work package 1. Year-round monitoring of biotic and abiotic parameters
Research focus in the project: Population genetic analyses of phytoplankton across the year. Overwintering strategies of phytoplankton and recruitment.
DR CLARA HOPPE
Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven
Role in YESSS: Lead of the YESSS project. Lead of work package 3. Experiments on winter survival in warming oceans
Research focus in the project: Year-round monitoring of the Kongsfjorden ecosystem with a focus on phytoplankton, overwintering success and temperature sensitivity of Arctic phytoplankton.
PROF. DR BERNHARD LIEB
Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz (JGU), Institute for Molecular Physiology (imP)
Role in YESSS: Senior researcher
Research focus in the project: Performing physiological and molecular experiments and NGS-based genomic and transcriptomic analyses on temperature sensitivities of the polar cod B. saida to identify variations in resilience as well as potential physiological bottlenecks of a changing arctic environment.
PROF. DR BJÖRN CHRISTIAN ROST
Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven University of Bremen
Role in YESSS: Researcher
Research focus in the project: Seasonally resolved physiological plasticity and ecosystem functions of Arctic phytoplankton under global warming.
DR KLARA WOLF
University of Konstanz, Environmental Genomics
Role in YESSS: Researcher
Research focus in the project: Genetic analysis of our year-round sampling campaign for an overview on general biodiversity and our different focal species throughout the different seasons of the year; overwintering strategies of phytoplankton in marine sediments.
