The original METROL partner BRIS, based in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, England, split up into BRIS and UWC when a major proportion of the BRIS staff moved to the School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences at Cardiff University in Wales. As a consequence of the splitting into independent partners, the responsibilities in the project were also divided. However, the very close cooperation between the involved labs still reflects their common roots.

UWC leads WP5 and both partners participate in field and experimental work. UWC-BRIS has broad expertise in the biogeochemistry of sediments, including the use of radioactive and stable isotopes or biomarkers as tracers of microbiological processes. The group has internationally pioneered research on the deep sub-seafloor biosphere, has coordinated the EU project DeepBUG, and is involved with research in both ocean margin sediments and ODP core material.

In METROL UWC is responsible for:

microbiology

porewater chemistry (VFAs)

experimental quantification of methanogenesis and acetogenesis

experiments on the pathways of methane oxidation

In METROL BRIS analyzes:

pore water chemistry

methane and DIC isotope measurements

biomarkers and their isotope signatures

Biomarker compounds for archaea and bacteria as tracers for microbial community structures are analyzed by the Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU) based in the School of Chemistry of the University of Bristol. Biomarkers can be particularly useful in the study of AOM because carbon isotopic compositions of specific compounds can be readily determined and used to elucidate pathways of carbon flow. In addition, biomarkers are relatively stable providing a mechanism to study past changes in AOM.

urls:
http://servant.geol.cf.ac.uk/admissions/phd/projects.shtml
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/org/evershed/

contact UWC:

Prof. Dr. John Parkes e-mail J.Parkes@earth.cf.ac.uk

contact BRIS:

Dr. Richard D. Pancost e-mail R.D.Pancost@bris.ac.uk