The role of mixotrophic protists in the biological carbon pump

Journal article 602 views 113 downloads

Biogeosciences, Volume: 11, Issue: 4, Pages: 995 - 1005

Swansesa University Authors: Kevin, Flynn, Aditee, Mitra

DOI (Published version): 10.5194/bg-11-995-2014

Published in:	Biogeosciences
ISSN:	1726-4189
Published:	2014
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa22271
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Item Description:	This work calls into question the very basis of the description of the ecology of the largest continual ecosystem, on the planet. We present a new paradigm for marine ecology. We suggest that the classic description of the marine ecosystem as dominated by phototrophic phytoplankton and heterotrophic zooplankton is flawed. Using plankton functional models coupled with observational and experimental data, we demonstrate that mixotrophic protists – single celled organisms performing both phototrophy and heterotrophy within a single cell – play a dominant role in our oceans. I conducted the modelling, was the primary and communicating author.
College:	College of Science
Issue:	4
Start Page:	995
End Page:	1005