Expedition Tohoku (Japan)
A team of European and Japanese scientists embarked on a Japanese
scientific research cruise on R/V Tansei Maru (Fig.) to investigate the
impact of the tsunami on the marine ecosystem and recovery of the
seafloor environment following the tsunami. From the Netherlands three Darwin Center researchers (
Dr. Gert-Jan Reichart,
Dr. Karoliina Koho and
Dr. Lennart de Nooijer) joined the expedition. They specifically
targeted changes in the chemical conditions at the seafloor, which will
be related to the eclogical community structure, and later via trace
metal analyses of the foraminiferal shell look at the long term effects.
Ecological impact of the Japan earthquake
Friday March 11th 2011, Japan was struck by one of the most powerful
earthquakes in the country’s history, measuring up to magnitude 9 on
Richter scale. This earthquake triggered a massive tsunami wave
devastating the coastal areas and resulting in the Fukushima nuclear
power plant disaster. The extensive devastation on land is evident, but
to what extend the underwater world was affected by the event is still
unknown but most likely also widespread.
Impact on the marine ecosystem
A
team of European and Japanese scientists embarked on a scientific
research cruise on R/V Tansei Maru to investigate the impact on
the marine ecosystem and recovery of the seafloor environment following
the tsunami. The team studied benthic foraminifera, microscopic
unicellular organisms that are abundant in all marine setting.
Foraminifera as 'recorders' of their environment
Foraminifera
(Fig.) are sensitive recorders of the ambient environment, different
species having their own ecological niches. Due to the opportunistic
nature of some species, environmental changes are quickly observed in
the community structure and composition.
Furthermore, additional
information can be gained through chemical analyses of the
foraminiferal calcite shell. The trace metal content of the
foraminiferal shell can be related to in situ growth conditions, like
temperature, salinity and oxygenation.
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