Cellular bio-volumes for the estimation of biomass in plankton communities: an approach by flow cytometry, cell sorting and epifluorescence microscopy
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
2011-2012
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The goal of this project is to carry out analyses of the annual variability in cellular bio-volumes of natural marine plankton communities. Bio-volumes will be estimated in heterotrophic bacteria, unicellular cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus), picoeukaryots and nanoflagellates (autotrophic and heterotrophic), by combining epifluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and sorting techniques to isolate cells. The calculation of bio-volumes will allow deriving conversion factors (from cells to carbon) to estimate planktonic biomass (a fundamental proxy for trophic studies) in natural communities, during different situations of the annual cycle of productivity in the region of the Canary Islands.