Primary Productivity Monitoring using FastOcean APD

In the oceans, almost all photosynthesis is performed by algae, with a small fraction contributed by vascular plants. Algae encompass a diverse range of organisms, ranging from single floating cells to seaweeds. The majority of primary production in the ocean is performed by phytoplankton. The factors regulating primary production in the ocean include the availability of light (the source of energy for photosynthesis), mineral nutrients (the building blocks for new growth), salinity, & temperature. Prof. Andrew McMinn and his team from the Inst for Marine & Antarctic Studies, Un. of Tasmania have been using a CTG FastOcean fluorometer to gain an insight into primary production, photosynthesis and photosynthetic health in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic. His most recent deployments unearthed some new and interesting results relating to the physiological adaptations of Antarctic phytoplankton surviving in almost complete darkness under the East Antarctic sea ice.