This two year award is for he development and application of new techniques in biological oceanography. Specifically, the investigators seek to develop immunofluorescent assays for the accessory pigments and surface proteins of small size class phytoplankton (ultraplankton). Such markers will then be used to characterize the taxonomic composition of the small cell flora in the ocean. Although the phytoplankton in this size class are very active biologically, they are difficult to identify and work with. This award will approach the problem with advanced biotechnological methods and reflects the desire of the oceanographic community to expand the available techniques for dealing with difficult biological problems.
