Oceanus Seminar Series | Naomi Villiot | 8 Nov | 12h | DOUBLE SERIES!

Title: Investigating diversity and biochemical composition of calcareous marine microalgae (an Assemble Plus project)

Name: Naomi Villiot

Affiliation: The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University (HWU)

Coccolithophores are a key functional phytoplankton group responsible for the majority of CaCO3 production and export, the efficiency of carbon pumping and the eventual sequestration of CO2 in the deep-sea. Despite representing a taxonomically diverse and ecologically successful group, our physiological understanding of them is biased towards only a few species. The elemental (carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus) and molecular (protein-lipid-carbohydrate) composition of different species directly influences their ecological success, their biogeography, and their roles in biogeochemical cycles. We propose to widen the understanding of coccolithophore physiology through a broad sampling of diverse species. This will (1) provide insights into how coccolithophore diversity influences their ecology; (2) test how ecological characteristics are linked to biochemical composition; and (3) examine hypotheses of why coccolithophores calcify.

 

Free entrance. Registration mandatory to divulgacao@ciimar.up.pt