ANIMA

Atmospheric inputs as a source of organic Nutrients and microorganisms In MArine ecosystems

The aim of ANIMA is to quantify and characterize the atmospheric inputs of organic matter and airborne microorganisms and to evaluate their impact in the frame of the NW Mediterranean marine ecosystem. The overriding hypothesis of ANIMA is that the larger proportion of organic matter in anthropogenic aerosols preferentially stimulates the heterotrophic bacteria in the water and changes microbial community composition. In future scenarios of the Mediterranean, aerosol deposition should have an even larger impact on marine ecosystems as aerosol loads, both natural and anthropogenic, are increasing while the mixed layer depth is shallowing. Thus, ANIMA will help understand current and future ocean responses to aerosol deposition.

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