Tags: Skidaway

I am a biological oceanographer interested the how the ocean physical and chemical properties influence zooplankton populations (animals in the water column between ~50 microns and 10 cm in size). Encompassing a diverse community of animals with different body plans, from crustaceans to gelatinous organisms and the early life stages of fishes, zooplankton form a critical link between the ocean’s primary production and economically important…

I was born in California, raised in Switzerland, and lived in several other places along the way. I have been interested in the ocean since a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium when I was young. Now I am persuing my Ph.D. in oceanography.   

Mixotrophic protists serve a unique role in marine environments, performing both photosynthesis and phagotrophy as forms of metabolism. While mixotrophic organisms are key contributors to primary production and remineralization in several ecosystems, relatively little is known about the roles they play in trophic structure and biogeochemical cycling. Mixotrophs are hypothesized to increase trophic transfer efficiency and contribute heavily to…