The sea we rarely see: connecting microscale processes to ecosystem function

Marine ecosystems are changing around the globe due to both natural and anthropogenic drivers. At the most fundamental level, microbes are the chemical engineers of the marine environment that orchestrate the biogeochemical backdrop for all other marine life. Microbial processes are influenced by environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and nutrient availability; however, our ability to predict ecosystem-wide effects of climate change on these processes has been limited by the tools available to study them at relevant scales. Imaging-based tools such as high spatio-temporal resolution microscopy and microfluidics open a new window into these critical ocean processes. I will present several case studies that demonstrate the power of these visualization-based technologies for uncovering the mechanisms that link microscale interactions to consequences for ecosystem biogeochemistry and health. We will see sulfur biogeochemistry in action, discover how warming oceans aid a marine pathogen in finding corals to infect, and explore the effects of coastal fish farms on benthic communities. Each example demonstrates how new technology, here exemplified through novel visualization tools, can transform our understanding of microscale processes that govern marine ecosystems.

Speaker: Melissa Garren