Plankton

Plankton is the set of organisms that are found in suspension in the ocean, ranging from bacteria to krill. These organisms are affected by multiple environmental stressors, such warming, acidification and freshening, among others

We study areas of high production of plankton (hot spots) in the Antarctic and Subantarctic regions, and their changes due to the major environmental stressors associated with global change. The contrast of classic and microbial trophic webs and chitinous versus gelatinous organisms, will be reviewed. Carbon fluxes through the pelagic food webs and to the deep-sea, will be also analyzed.