U.S.-Korea Cooperative Research: Cell Death and Dissolved Organic Carbon Production in Phytoplankton

Health Research Incorporated/New York State Department Of Health, Menands NY

Investigators

Abstract

0003944 Rhee This award supports Dr. G-Yull Rhee, Laboratory of Environmental Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, to conduct collaborative research with Dr. Jongseol Kim of the University of Ulsan in Korea. The joint study will investigate cell death among phytoplankton species. Phytoplankton cell death is an important loss process that affects the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. While external factors such as herbivore grazing and viral infection are major causes of cell death, internally-driven physiological death may also play a significant role in phytoplankton mortality. If the physiological death rate varies with species, it will not only affect primary productivity, but also interspecies competition and succession. Since cell death is accompanied by the release of dissolved organic carbon, it can also divert photosynthetically-fixed carbon to the microbial loop. This project will combine the complementary expertise and facilities of the American and Korean laboratories to advance our mutual understanding of the problem.