Pelagic ecology

We study a broad range of plankton ecology subjects from the genetic structure of phytoplankton and bacteria to predator-prey relationships in the pelagic environment and the coupling between physical forcing and biological responses. We combine field studies with experiments and modelling. The ocean water column, the pelagic zone, is the largest habitat on Earth and produces about half the biomass on the planet. Many of the world’s commercial fish species are pelagic and represent a valuable protein resource. Pelagic ecosystems also interact with the atmosphere and is an essential component of the climate system. In contrast to the larger plants and grazers in the terrestrial environments, the base of the pelagic food web consists of microscopic plankton (free-drifting). Plankton ecology aims to understand how physical, chemical and biological interactions control the population dynamics of plankton and how this scales up to ecosystem effects.

Contact person:

Peter Tiselius, peter.tiselius@marecol.gu.se