Research

We explore how phytoplankton communities shift and change seasonally and on longer time scales in response to environmental variability such as fluctuations in light, temperature and nutrients. In addition to forming the base of both coastal and oceanic food webs, phytoplankton are responsible for half the primary production on the planet, making them a critical part of the global carbon cycle. Our lab develops ways to measure changes in phytoplankton community structure using remote sensing tools such as satellites, optical sensors, and automated imaging. We then apply these tools to answer questions about impacts for local and global ecosystems, especially in the context of climate change.