А recent study, supported by the ANERIS project, was published in May last year in Ecology and Evolution, a peer-reviewed open access journal collecting research in the fields of ecology, evolution, and conservation science. Titled “Northern Norway Sporophytes of Saccharina latissima Display Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Response to Temperature and Photoperiod”, the article sheds more light on how the sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), native to different regions of Norway, responds at the genetic level to changes in temperature and photoperiods. 

The analysis highlights the crucial ecological role sugar kelp plays in blue bioeconomy, whose survival has been in recent years threatened by ongoing climate changes, such as rising sea temperatures and shifting light regimes. Although previous research has identified genetic variations, local adaptation and acclimation across S. latissima to different environmental conditions remain unexplored. This article builds on previously conducted research by addressing the gap and performing a common garden experiment with sporophytes, originating from North-Norway, Mid-Norway, and South-Norway, regions that are characterised by different temperatures and photo periods. 

Findings of the study showed that there is significant variation in the gene expression between the Northern Norwegian sporophytes and those from Mid- and South-Norway. Additionally, an upregulation of genes linked to growth, metabolism, protein synthesis, and translation was noticed, providing evidence that the NN genotype adapts better to cold conditions, in comparison to the MN and SN genotypes. 

This article demonstrates that a deeper insight into the local adaptation potential of S. latissima is key for conservation planning, restoration of natural populations, and sustainable kelp cultivation.