MARINE PLANKTON : FROM CELLS TO ECOSYSTEMS A celebration of the scientific career of Professor Patrick M. Holligan

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Welcome to the conference web site

3 April 2008, University of Plymouth, UK

The conference aims to celebrate the scientific career of Professor Patrick M. Holligan through a series of invited presentations on scientific research topics relevant to understanding the physiology and ecology of marine plankton from the micro- to global scale. Topics include the physiology of photosynthesis, selective uptake of organic molecules by bacterioplankton, the ecology of dimethylsulphide production, calcium carbonate budgets, the dynamics of the chlorophyll maximum and remote sensing of plankton functional groups. Confirmed speakers include:

• Professor Nick Owens (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
• Professor Peter Burkill (Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science)
• Mr Steve Groom (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
• Dr Suzanne Turner (University of East Anglia)
• Dr Mark Moore (University of Essex)
• Dr Barney Balch (Bigelow Laboratory, USA)
• Dr Alex Poulton (University of Southampton)
• Dr Toby Tyrrell (National Oceanography Centre)
• Dr Carol Robinson (University of East Anglia, UK)
• Dr Mike Zubkov (National Oceanography Centre)
• Dr Jonathan Sharples (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)
• Prof Robin Pingree (Marine Biological Association)
• Dr Jim Aiken (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)

The conference is organised by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and is aligned with a special issue of the Journal of Plankton Research which includes peer reviewed manuscripts from some of the conference speakers. Further details (including ordering information) of the Special Edition are now available.

We are currently compiling a special issue of the Journal of Plankton Research in celebration of the scientific career of Prof. Patrick Holligan. The issue will be published in February 2008, and can be purchased as part of the conference delegate pack at a special 'conference' price. Manuscripts have been submitted by several colleagues of Patrick and speakers at the conference, and are currently under review. Topics are relevant to Patrick's research including observations of phytoplankton primary production and calcification in both the open ocean and shelf seas, remote sensing of and the biogeochemical importance of coccolithophore blooms, microbial cycling of nutrients, and the relevance of cell size to plankton activity. Accepted manuscripts will be available from the Journal of Plankton Research 'Advance Access' from mid November 2007.

The conference will begin with a Welcome Reception at the University of Plymouth at 18:00 on 2 April 2008, sponsored by the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership (PMSP).

The conference dinner will take place at The Orangery, Mount Edgcumbe country house and gardens and will be sponsored by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Marine Biological Association, the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science and the Chelsea Technology Group. Guests will travel to the venue via boat from the historic Barbican area taking a short trip to view Plymouth from the Sound. The three course conference dinner takes place in the unique surroundings of the Orangery overlooking the formal Italian gardens at Mount Edgcumbe. Guests will return on the boat directly to the Barbican.

Mount Edgcumbe House

Mount Edgcumbe Italian Gardens