Research project Drivers and functions of protist parasites in plankton food webs
Parasitic symbionts play a major role in the functioning and equilibrium of carbon flow in marine food webs. But the extent and strength of zooplankton parasites are still poorly known, mainly because they are hard to detect due to their small size and mostly hidden within their hosts, and consequently frequently overseen.
This, despite recent observations uncovered a large number of parasitic dinoflagellates in the global ocean that often dominate interactions with zooplankton. Here, we advance knowledge in a widespread parasitic interaction between zooplankton and parasitic dinoflagellates, and ask the complex and essential question of how zooplankton parasites shape marine food webs. Zooplankton perform key functions that ultimately sustain a vast range of marine organisms, and by grazing control phytoplankton blooms. How parasitic dinoflagellates and zooplankton interact is of fundamental importance for the cycling of carbon and energy transfer.
Project members
Project managers
Monika Quinones Winder
Professor
