DLESE description of Mote Marine Laboratory Phytoplankton Ecology Program

The Mote Marine Laboratory Phytoplankton Ecology Program focuses on microscopic plants in the oceans, many of which produce harmful toxins. This program addresses phytoplankton behavior, photophysiology and bloom dynamics. This site contains data from investigations, which utilize remote sensing technology for monitoring natural phytoplankton blooms as well as laboratory studies to understand how harmful marine algae function at the cellular level. A major focus of this program is to better understand conditions under which red tide blooms develop. Much of the data focuses on five ECOHAB process cruises between October 1998 and January 1999, which was enhanced through collection and utilization of satellite remote sensing data to observe planktonic movements. Hydrographic properties were contoured to create surface maps while specific stations were chosen from the profile data to form cross sections of the west Florida continental shelf.