Biocomplexity of Aquatic Microbial Systems:
Relating Diversity of Microorganisms to Ecosystem Function

CTD Rosette on the R/V Cape Henlopen

Principal Investigators: Jackie L. Collier at SoMAS; Bess Ward at Princeton; Pat Glibert, Todd Kana, Jeff Cornwell at UMD Horn Point; Mary Voytek at USGS; Jon Zehr at UC Santa Cruz

Funded by NSF Biological Oceanography Program

Students Supported: Kristopher Baker (Ph.D.) and Sheryl Bell (Ph.D.)

Project Description: The goal of this project is to investigate the functional relationship between complexity in microbial communities and the biogeochemical cycles of natural ecosystems. It seems likely that microbial community complexity is related to the physical/chemical complexity of the environment, although just what is mean t by complexity is difficult to define and quantify. Our study will include sites in the Chesapeake Bay, one of its branches, the Choptank River, and the open ocean of the Sargasso Sea, which is the major ocean basin into which water from the Chesapeake Bay flows. We will characterize the physical/chemical complexity of these systems in terms of chemical and hydrographical variables , using data collected by our program and other ongoing programs in the region.

Fror a more detailed description, visit the project website.

Kris Baker on the R/V Cape Henlopen

Jeff Alexander at the Horn Point Lab