Fieldwork along the East Greenland Coast – Unveiling the Arctic Ocean Resistome in the Plastisphere
In October 2025, ICEBERG’s scientists embarked aboard the icebreaker RV Polarstern on a unique expedition to one of the most remote and pristine regions along the East Greenland coast (78.2°–84.2° N). Their mission was to collect samples and study microplastics, the tiny plastic particles found in the sea. Specifically, their aim was to investigate the micro-organisms that live on the surface of these plastic particles, and their ability to develop resistance to antibiotics, for example. The findings from this work will contribute to a deeper understanding of how emerging pollutants influence the development and dispersal of resistant microbes within the Arctic ecosystem, researchers Benjamin Pontiller, Moritz Aehle, and Anja Engel share in this blog.
RV Polarstern breaking ice along the East Greenland coast.
Exploring the East Greenland Coast
Fieldwork in the Arctic coastal waters of Northeast Greenland—one of the most remote regions on the planet—poses substantial challenges. Even in early autumn, rapidly shifting ice conditions and frequent storms demand exceptional flexibility and meticulous planning.
“Constantly adapting the station and section work to the ever-changing conditions is a real challenge for everyone working on an icebreaker,” says researcher Moritz Aehle from GEOMAR.
View from the deck of an icebreaker overlooking Arctic sea ice and open water at sunset.Crane arm on an icebreaker overlooking broken Arctic sea ice and cold ocean waters.
Despite these obstacles, which at times made sampling nearly impossible, we succeeded in collecting microplastic particles through the ship’s continuous underway system in this extremely remote environment—highlighting the global reach of human-caused pollution. The underway system continuously pumps seawater through an internal pipe network, from which we sampled microplastics, using a sieve tower equipped with multiple mesh sizes.
In addition, we collected samples for DNA and RNA analyses at selected locations to identify the organisms present and assess which genes are active in the seawater. We also conducted an incubation experiment using marine water collected at 79°N, exposing it to seven common types of plastic (polymers) to study biofilm development – the slimy layer of bacteria and other small organisms that builds up on the plastic’s surface. This approach will enable us to determine how different plastics influence the microbial community and resistome dynamics.
Oceanographic instruments are used to collect water samples from the Arctic Ocean.
After six weeks traveling through the ice around Greenland—and freezers filled with samples—we began our journey home. As we left the mesmerising yet unforgiving Arctic environment behind, our thoughts already turned to the insights we hope to gain from analysing the material we collected.
“Once out of the ice, we encountered one low-pressure system after another, each driving us toward Bremerhaven on waves of three to six meters height from the rear. These taxing transit conditions almost made us long for the stability of the ice,” said Moritz Aehle.
Returning with vivid impressions of the past weeks and a profound sense of gratitude for the experience, we felt a strengthened responsibility to do everything within our power to help protect this unique environment.
Unveiling the plastic-linked antibiotic resistance
To understand how plastic pollution affects the Arctic ecosystem, GEOMAR scientists are analysing the microorganisms that colonise microplastics and the resistance traits they carry. Using advanced molecular and genomic methods, the team aims to identify potentially harmful microbes and uncover how biofilm communities on plastic particles function.
Lab workspace onboard RV Polarstern used for processing microplastic and seawater samples.
With expedition PS150 now complete and the samples already en route to Bremerhaven, our researchers are eagerly awaiting their arrival for further processing in the GEOMAR laboratories in Kiel, Germany. Together with samples from two previous Polarstern expeditions focused on Svalbard and the Fram Strait, this material forms an unprecedented dataset. Collectively, these data will help reveal how the microorganisms living on the surface of plastic fragments in the Arctic have developed resistance and significantly improve our understanding of pollution in this rapidly changing region.
“The data we are generating within the ICEBERG project will facilitate a better understanding of the potential risks microplastics pose to human and ecosystem health,” explains Benjamin Pontiller, PhD. “The knowledge gained from earlier polymer deployments in Kongsfjorden and the Fram Strait — made possible with the help of our project partners at ISP-CNR — together with our incubation experiments, is especially valuable because it will enable us to formulate evidence-based recommendations and inform policy makers.”
Seawater is pumped, filtered, and processed to analyse microplastics and associated microbial communities with the onboard filtration workflow.
Text: Benjamin Pontiller (GEOMAR), Moritz Aehle (University of Hamburg / GEOMAR), and Anja Engel (GEOMAR)
Photos: Moritz Aehle (University of Hamburg / GEOMAR)
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