Microbial Ecology Laboratory

Molecular Ecology of Microbial Communities

Research Themes

  • Diversity and Function of Microbial Eukaryotes in the World's Oceans
  • Microbial Eukaryotes at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents
  • Marine Microalgae as New Sources of Nutrition and Energy
  • Harmful Algae in Aquatic Environments: Detection, Quantification and Impacts on Ecosystem Structure

Funded Research Projects and Equipment Grants:

  1. Collaborative Research: Seasonal bloom dynamics: Synechococcus-grazer interactions as a model system: NSF DEB #1233788

    The ciliate Uronema (strain BBCil) shown with ingested Synechococcus under DIC (left panel) and fluorescence (right panel) illumination. Red spheres inside the ciliate are individual Synechococcus cells after 24 hrs of grazing by Uronema.

  2. Bigelow Laboratory Marine Biological and Oceanographic Computational Resources: NSF DBI #1226726
  3. Ocean Acidification: Influence of Ocean Acidification on Biotic Controls of DMS Emissions: NSF OCE #1316133
  4. MRI: Acquisition of genome sequencers for Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: NSF OCE #1335810
  5. Plankton N Cycling and Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms Across a Gradient of Lake Trophic State: Funded by Maine Water Resources Institute (WRRI) Project Description

A colony of the cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia, sampled from the Belgrade Lakes, Maine (USA) in June of 2015. We have recently generated the first DNA sequences for the local variety of this cyanobacterium and have used these sequences to design a highly-sensitive quantitative PCR assay for rapid detection of small numbers of this organism.

Digital Microscopy:

The dinoflagellate Ceratium against a backdrop of diatoms belonging to the genus Leptocylindrus, sampled from the Damariscotta River in June of 2013, imaged with an iPhone 5 through a microscope ocular and digitally enhanced in Photoshop.

Postdoctoral Research Opportunities:

If you are interested in developing a NSF proposal to conduct postdoctoral research in my lab please feel free to drop me a line to discuss opportunities.

Links to previous affiliations and activities:

Lab Staff

Peter Countway
Senior Research Scientist