Scope
The workshop will give participants the chance to discuss results from multiple time series providing phytoplankton data into the MSFD process throughout Europe, and ensure consistency in identification across multiple methods
Topic
The workshop will train early career scientists, technical and support staff in identification of key marine phytoplankton taxa. These skills are needed to monitor and predict future distributions and impacts of a changing environment.
Objectives
The workshop will focus on the taxonomic identification of phytoplankton, from key experts in the field, aiding the prediction of biodiversity, distributions of and primary productivity from phytoplankton. The course will also provide training in cutting edge molecular techniques, including DNA barcoding and bioinformatic analyses, to complement morphological identification and assess population size and variability. The course will show how Next Generation Sequencing metabarcoding can help our understanding of real species diversity in the plankton and how to interpret phylogenetic trees.
Expected Outcomes
The introductory phytoplankton identification workshop will transfer knowledge from renowned international experts to PhD students and early career scientists in a high standard of phytoplankton identification techniques, thus addressing questions related to the function and sustainability of marine ecosystems. The workshop will sustain a taxonomic skill set that is recognised to be rapidly diminishing and will introduce new practical skills to PhD students and early career scientists. A summary report will be made available post-workshop.