January 25, 2021
For Immediate Release
Research from North Carolina State University shows that extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and increased precipitation, affect both the amount and the composition of picophytoplankton in the Neuse River Estuary. The work is a first step in determining how a wetter climate may affect the estuarine ecosystem.
Picophytoplankton are defined as any phytoplankton measuring less than three micrometers in size. Although well studied as part of the oceanic ecosystem and food web, picophytoplankton are understudied in estuarine systems, even though they occur in significant numbers within these environments.
“Picophytoplankton are important primary producers in aquatic ecosystems,” says Ryan Paerl, assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences and lead author of the research. “They provide food for larger microorganisms, play a role in carbon fixation and cycling, and are sentinels of good ecosystem health. So under
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