PlyMSEF Plymouth Marine Science Medal Lecture 2024

Oceans are the ‘beating heart’ of the Earth’s carbon cycle: with ~1 billion tonnes of phytoplankton alive in the ocean at any one time but with 45 billion tonnes of new phytoplankton produced each year, phytoplankton must reproduce themselves entirely roughly once a week. The functioning of this ‘fast’ marine phytoplankton carbon pump (i.e. the fixation of atmospheric CO2 into biomass and the subsequent sinking and burial of this biomass into the deep ocean) is critical for absorbing and sequestering the increased levels of CO2 currently entering the atmosphere from anthropogenic input. Cyanobacteria of the genera Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are numerically the most abundant phytoplankton component in ocean systems (and indeed on planet Earth as a whole!) contributing 25% of global oceanic primary production but with this figure increasing to as much as 90% of the total in oligotrophic regions.

This talk will explain controls on their abundance and activity but also delve into the specific adaptation mechanisms of these tiny marine phototrophs that have helped them successfully dominate ocean ecosystems.

The talk will start at 18:30 with doors open from 18:00.

By completing the registration form, you provide your consent for the University of Plymouth to use your personal information for the purposes of managing your attendance at this event.

The Plymouth Marine Science & Education Foundation (PlyMSEF) is a charitable body established to provide funds to enable students and early career scientists to attend scientific conferences and symposia or to attend advanced training courses or workshops in the marine disciplines. It also provides funds to promote marine science and related subjects such as public lectures and seminars in Plymouth and an annual research student conference.

Its work is overseen by trustees from marine organisations across Plymouth: DDRC Healthcare, Marine Biological Association, Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Plymouth.

Host or Publisher University of Plymouth Events Team