GENICE

GENICE addresses Canada’s pressing need to develop preparedness and response strategies for fuel spills in arctic waters.

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Article by GENICE postdoc Srijak Bhatnagar about his recent fieldwork on the Arctic Research Foundation ship R/V William Kennedy. @GenomeCanada @GenomeAlberta @GenomeQuebec @GenomePrairie @Research_MB

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The GENICE McGill team working hard during helicopter underwater egress training in prep for this year's Arctic cruise of the CCGS Amundsen. Objectives this year: re-sampling beaches and sediments of the Baffin Island Oil Spill (BIOS) project and the natural seep at Scott Inlet

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We are also collecting water and ice samples while visiting the local communities in Nunavut. Last Monday (May 27) we collected water and ice cores in Arviat with the help of a local guide: Andy.

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A GENICE Team is up in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut presenting our research and receiving feedback from local communities. Last Tuesday (May 28) we had an introductory meeting with the Arviat Hunters & Trappers Organization, who were very supportive and offered great input.

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Interesting Postdoc position in Arctic Oil Microbiology at the Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark. https://t.co/OCjuTIUubh

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@E4Dca @GenomeCanada @MEOPAR_NCE Our goal is to provide scientific evidence that is relevant for Canada's oil spill preparedness, as it relates to microorganisms and bioremediation. This will help us know to what extent bioremediation should inform and be part of an overall strategy #cdnscichat 4/4

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@E4Dca @GenomeCanada @MEOPAR_NCE In our research we also collaborate with colleagues working in fields like economics, law and policy across Canada, as well as both federal and provincial government departments, and municipalities in the Arctic. #cdnscichat 3/n

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@E4Dca I suppose our biggest question in general is, to what extent Canada's Arctic Ocean harbours microbial communities with the potential to help us in a bioremediation strategy. To what extent do the microbes 'have our backs'? #cdnscichat 6/6

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@E4Dca we also wonder how quickly biodegradation can occur in very cold water of the Arctic Ocean. Seawater is still liquid at -2C. If there's a spill under those conditions, how does the oil behave, and how quickly will the microbes respond? #cdnscichat 5/n

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@E4Dca there's not normally high concentrations of hydrocarbons in the ocean, therefore the oil-degrading bacteria are normally in present in low numbers in the background. This may make then undetectable using standard tools #cdnscichat 5/n

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@E4Dca but there are also many many species in the background, in low abundance, that prefer different conditions. These organisms are poised to respond to a change in the environment, like an oil spill #cdnscichat 4/n