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1999 Projects: Upper ocean biogeochemistryMolecular monitoring of picoplanktonProject lead/manager: Ed DeLong Single-celled planktonic microbes are the most abundant organisms in the world's oceans. At concentrations of about one million cells per milliliter in surface waters, microorganisms consume an estimated 20 to 50 percent of marine primary productivity. Planktonic microbes are also biochemically versatile, mediating most of the key chemical transformations of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in the oceanic biosphere. The cycling of chemical elements in the sea is absolutely dependent on microbes, but the identity, variability, and activity of these organisms are poorly understood. To address this general problem, we will develop novel approaches and procedures that employ molecular biological techniques and other methods to rapidly identify and quantify marine microorganisms throughout the water column. We will couple molecular methods to new technologies designed to monitor microbial activities in situ. Our long-range goal is to evolve technologies that enable in situ, simultaneous monitoring of indigenous microbial species and the biogeochemical processes in which they play key roles. We anticipate that the procedures developed may be broadly applicable and useful to biological oceanographers. Next: Physics and biology of ocean fronts in Monterey Bay Last updated: 07 October 2004 |
