Seasonal environmental variability drives microdiversity within a coastal Synechococcus population.

Marine microbes often show a high degree of physiological or ecological diversity below the species level. This microdiversity raises questions about the processes that drive diversification and permit coexistence of diverse yet closely related marine microbes, especially given the theoretical efficiency of competitive exclusion. Here, we provide insight with an 8-year time series of diversity within Synechococcus, a widespread and important marine picophytoplankter.

Seasons of .

is a widespread and important marine primary producer. Time series provide critical information for identifying and understanding the factors that determine abundance patterns. Here, we present the results of analysis of a 16-yr hourly time series of at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory, obtained with an automated, in situ flow cytometer.

Dynamics and functional diversity of the smallest phytoplankton on the Northeast US Shelf.

Picophytoplankton are the most abundant primary producers in the ocean. Knowledge of their community dynamics is key to understanding their role in marine food webs and global biogeochemical cycles. To this end, we analyzed a 16-y time series of observations of a phytoplankton community at a nearshore site on the Northeast US Shelf.

Physiological and ecological drivers of early spring blooms of a coastal phytoplankter.

Climate affects the timing and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms that fuel marine food webs and influence global biogeochemical cycles. Changes in bloom timing have been detected in some cases, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, contributing to uncertainty in long-term predictions of climate change impacts. Here we describe a 13-year hourly time series from the New England shelf of data on the coastal phytoplankter Synechococcus, during which the timing of its spring bloom varied by 4 weeks.

Diversity of Synechococcus at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory: Insights from Culture Isolations, Clone Libraries, and Flow Cytometry.

The cyanobacterium Synechococcus is a ubiquitous, important phytoplankter across the world's oceans. A high degree of genetic diversity exists within the marine group, which likely contributes to its global success. Over 20 clades with different distribution patterns have been identified.

Diel size distributions reveal seasonal growth dynamics of a coastal phytoplankter.

Phytoplankton account for roughly half of global primary production; it is vital that we understand the processes that control their abundance. A key process is cell division. We have, however, been unable to estimate division rate in natural populations at the appropriate timescale (hours to days) for extended periods of time (months to years).