This course addresses the study of the interaction between the composition and dynamics of biological communities and the production and fate of organic matter in the ocean. The diversity and metabolic activity of microbial plankton receive special attention, due to their key role in the regulation of marine biogeochemical cycles. Multiple levels of organization are considered, including cells, populations, communities and the ecosystem. The ultimate aim is to understand the role of ocean's biology in the functioning of the Earth system.
