Tag: Iceland

Rhodothermus bifroesti sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from the basaltic subsurface of the volcanic island Surtsey

Post author By Kristín Edda Gylfadóttir
Post date 01/08/2023

Contact

Pauline Vannier

Project Manager

pauline.vannier@matis.is

Novel thermophilic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the subsurface of the volcanic island Surtsey off the south coast of Iceland. The strains were isolated from tephra core and borehole fluid samples collected below 70 m depth. The Gram-negative bacteria were rod-shaped (0.3-0.4 µm wide, 1.5-7 µm long), aerobic, non-sporulating and non-motile. Optimal growth was observed at 70 °C, at pH 7-7.5 and with 1% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis identified the strains as members of the genus Rhodothermus. The type strain, ISCAR-7401^T, was genetically distinct from its closest relatives Rhodothermus marinus DSM 4252^T and Rhodothermus profundi PRI 2902^T based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (95.81 and 96.01%, respectively), genomic average nucleotide identity (73.73 and 72.61%, respectively) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (17.6 and 16.9%, respectively). The major fatty acids of ISCAR-7401^T were iso-C_17:0, anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0 and iso-C_15:0 (> 10 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 while phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid and a phospholipid were the predominant polar lipid components. Based on comparative chemotaxonomic, genomic and phylogenetic analyzes, we propose that the isolated strain represents a novel species of the genus Rhodothermus with the name Rhodothermus bifroesti sp. nov. The type strain is ISCAR-7401^T(= DSM 112103^T= CIP 111906^T).

Tags genome, Iceland, Rhodothermaceae, Rhodothermus, subsurface, thermophile, volcanic island Surtsey

Reports

Food in the tourism of the future - Iceland. Discussion paper and summary after workshops with Icelandic stakeholders in February and March 2021

Post author By Kristín Edda Gylfadóttir
Post date 02/03/2022

Published:

02/03/2022

Authors:

Editors: Þóra Valsdóttir Matís and Brynja Laxdal Matarauður Íslands Co-authors: Ásta Kristín Sigurjónsdóttir Íslenski ferðaklasinn, Guðrún Þóra Gunnarsdóttir Rannsóknarmiðstöð ferðamála, Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir Matís, Laufey Haraldsdóttir Háskólinn á Hólum, Óli Þór Hilmarsson Matís, Rakel Halldórsdóttir Matís, Háma Dnsdóttir, Selma Dnsdóttir, Selma Dnsdóttir - and the Ministry of Innovation, Sunna Þórðardóttir The Ministry of Culture and Commerce, Tjörvi Bjarnason The Icelandic Farmers' Association

Supported by:

Nordic Council of Ministers

Eight Nordic countries are involved in the Nordic Food in Tourism project, which is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers for the period 2019-2021. in how climate change, consumption changes and other trends can shape the future of food in tourism. The aim is to raise awareness of future challenges and opportunities related to tourism assessment and to provide strategic guidance that supports future action and policy-making in the Nordic countries that is also in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The results of the project are based on data analysis, futuristic methods and interviews with experts in collaboration with the consulting company Kairos Future. To explore the challenges and opportunities we face in Iceland regarding food in tourism, an introductory meeting and two workshops were held in February and March 2021 under the auspices of the Nordic Food in Tourism project. Nordic Food in Tourism also participated in three solutions tournaments that were held in Iceland 2020-2021, where solutions were worked on that promote increased sustainability and it was proven that great emphasis was placed on food-related opportunities.

Many suggestions for action were made in the workshops, but in many cases it is unclear who should pull the cart and be responsible for following the suggestions. Proposals were submitted for implementation and partners of actions, but more parties could be involved in their implementation. This document is a summary that reflects the attitudes of the participants in the workshops and the emphases of the participants in the solutions. Furthermore, to this extent, other results from the Nordic Food in Tourism project as well as other sources are interwoven with this aim, with the aim of deepening the understanding of the discussion points that were made and the measures that are proposed. The actions and emphases that emerge are limited to Iceland and the emphases that the participants of the workshop in this country wanted to convey. The aim is for this summary to be used as a basis for proposals for policy-making on tourism assessment in Iceland and to provide inspiration for further collaboration, development, investment and innovation in tourism assessment with sustainability as a guiding principle.

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Tags actions, Tourism, future, Iceland, Food, nordic, Sustainability

Reports

NordMar Plastic RISK: Socioeconomic risks of plastic to the bioeconomy - Icelandic case study

Post author By admin
Post date 30/01/2020

Published:

30/01/2020

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Gunnar Þórðarson, Bryndís Björnsdóttir

Supported by:

Nordic Council of Ministers

NordMar Plastic RISK: Socioeconomic risks of plastic to the bioeconomy - Icelandic case study

The risks related to plastic on the bioeconomy are not only biological, toxicological and chemical, but also societal and economical. Influence of tainted opinion on the Nordic environment or Nordic production could influence tourism, marketing and general wellbeing. The aim of the NordMar PlasticRISK project is to evaluate the diverse impact and main socioeconomic risks related to marine plastic pollution on the bioeconomy of the Nordic countries using Iceland as a case study. Two of the main industries in Iceland, the fishing industry and tourism, are heavily dependent on the bioeconomy as well as clean and pristine environment. Economic risks, followed by tainting the environment with visual plastic debris and macroplastic as well as unclear status of microplastic, is estimated to be high due to increased environmental awareness of consumers and tourists, where the main focus of tourist arriving to Iceland is to experience pristine environment. Several actions are suggested such as to evaluate and improve the Icelandic system for recycling of used fishing gear, evaluate further marketing options and value of advertising low and responsible plastic use in these two main industries and increase education on environmental issues in the School of navigation.