The turn of the 21st century has brought a number of important scientific breakthroughs, including sequencing of the human genome and the creation of the first synthetically produced bacterial cell. It has also brought us past the 7 billion mark in human population, the highest levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the past 800,000 years, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification. How will marine phytoplankton respond to these global changes?
Research in our lab focuses on the molecular ecophysiology of phytoplankton to understand how these organisms will respond to future global environmental change. Despite representing <1% of the Earth’s biomass, this microscopic slice of the planet contributes nearly 50% of global primary productivity and plays a role in nearly every major biogeochemical cycle including carbon, nitrogen, and silicon. Our interdisciplinary research combines molecular, biochemical, and biophysical techniques with genomic and (meta)transcriptomic studies to answer fundamental questions about the physiology and functional ecology of this globally important group of organisms.
Sculpture by Clyde Lynds