McGill University
Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Graham Bell
Gregor Fussmann
Start: 2007-09-01
End: 2013-08-20
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Project

Ecological and Evolutionary Response of Phytoplankton to Rising Atmospheric CO2
We are using two original experimental systems to study the ecological and evolutionary responses of phytoplankton to CO2. A laboratory-based experimental phytoplankton community is used to study the responses of major taxa and species in a highly tractable system. This experimental community was used to explore how elevated CO2 alters growth and competition of phytoplankton and was also used to explore if phytoplankton adapt to elevated atmospheric CO2 . Using mesocosm experiments, we investigated the effect of elevating CO2 and eutrophication on phytoplankton productivity and community composition, with a particular interest in their interaction.

Keywords

marine ecology, algae, phytoplankton, global change, coral reef, R, experimental ecology, experimental evolution

Publications

1- The effect of elevated CO2 on growth and competition in experimental phytoplankton communities
LOW-DÉCARIE, ETIENNE, GREGOR F. FUSSMANN, GRAHAM BELL
2011 Global Change Biology

2- Long-term culture at elevated atmospheric CO2 fails to evoke specific adaptation in seven freshwater phytoplankton species
Low-Decarie, E., M. D. Jewell, G. F. Fussmann, G. Bell
2013 Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences