Our work in the open oceans concentrates on the dynamics of planktonic and microbial systems and their role in global biogeochemical cycles. The group also has internationally-recognised expertise in phytoplankton productivity and ecology. Prof. Geider and Dr. Suggett use fast repetition rate fluorescence and other approaches to assess phytoplankton productivity and investigate taxonomic diversity and how environmental factors (light and nutrient limitation) in control productivity in marine and freshwater systems. These data are used to develop models of phytoplankton photosynthesis which are being integrated into ocean biogeochemical models as part of the NERC MARQUEST consortium.
Dr. Lawson studies the effects of light, CO2
concentration and nutrient limitation on photosynthesis in marine
diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Dr. Steinke’s research examines the importance of biogenic trace gases in marine plankton systems, particularly the production of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and its’ precursors by algae. Trace gas production (DMS, N2O) links to Prof. Colbeck’s work on aerosol production and regulation in marine systems.
The group undertakes a range of
internationally-recognised research in environmental microbiology. One
theme is the integration of geochemical, physiological and molecular
biological approaches to assess the rates and pathways of biochemical
transformations in the environment. Prof. Nedwell and Dr.
Whitby study nitrogen transformations (nitrification,
denitrification, N2O production) in estuaries and coastal sediments,
Prof. Underwood assesses the rates and pathways of production
and transformation of extracellular carbohydrates in photosynthetic
biofilms (intertidal mudflats, tropical biofilms and stromatolites and
in polar sea ice), while Prof. Nedwell, Dr. McGenity and Dr.
Whitby use molecular biological and microbiological approaches to
identify the microbes and pathways involved in organic carbon
degradation in soils, aquifers and estuaries.
Another area of expertise is the identification and
function of novel microbial groups, particularly extremophiles (archaea)
in polar (Prof. Nedwell) and hypersaline (Dr. McGenity)
environments.
Microalgal culturing is used extensively to examine
how productivity is affected by environmental (climate) change (Prof.
Geider, Dr. Suggett), such as ocean acidification and elevated
seawater temperatures.
Much of this open ocean research also forms a component of our coral reef research of oceanic coral atolls and of pelagic-benthic coupling.
