Planet B612

Ep.46 – Marine Plankton with David Johns

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Ever wonder how, and why, we research microscopic life in our oceans? In this episode, I speak with plankton ecologist, and head of the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey about marine life, research, and more!

  • (0:00:26) Plymouth, England.
  • (0:02:07) Publication and reputation over a PhD in the UK.
  • (0:04:56) What are plankton? Phyto and Zoo.
  • (0:06:27) Zooplankton: Starting small.
  • (0:08:35) Microscopic crustaceans: It's all relative. 
  • (0:09:23) Copepods: A keystone species.
  • (0:10:30) Key species: Playing a pivotal role.
  • (0:11:54) Phytoplankton: Diatoms and Dinoflagellates.
  • (0:13:29) Changing seasons and how it affects populations.
  • (0:15:44) Marine Tardigrades.
  • (0:17:02) What is the best way to sample marine plankton communities?
  • (0:18:00) Microscopic Jellyfish and CPR Samples.
  • (0:19:00) Why study the microscopic? The canary in the coal mine.
  • (0:20:56) Moving North: The changing latitudes of plankton populations.
  • (0:21:30) Calanus Finmarchicus and Calanus Helgolandicus.
  • (0:23:16) The Global Association of CPR Surveys.
  • (0:25:30) The origin of the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey.
  • (0:27:21) Plankton and changing water colours.
  • (0:29:25) Red tides, toxic blooms and the Environmental Agency.
  • (0:32:39) Ships of opportunity: How the CPR runs.
  • (0:35:45) The CPR design.
  • (0:36:40) Holographic 3D imaging and upcoming changes.
  • (0:37:34) Data collection: Getting more accurate positioning in the future.
  • (0:38:45) How far down does the CPR go?
  • (0:39:44) Testing the plankton of the deep.
  • (0:40:48) Long term trends and changes: What the data is used for.
  • (0:42:56) CPR: High success, low errors. 
  • (0:44:32) Surprising results and the diatoms of the NorthWest Atlantic. 
  • (0:48:01) CPR: Free and available for everyone.
  • (0:49:09) The CPR Survey and scientific research in the UK.
  • (0:52:08) Hobbies and interests: Natural History and the outdoors.
  • (0:53:04) If you could go anywhere, when and where would you go?
  • (0:53:49) Observing the natural world around us.

    • Visit the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey: https://www.cprsurvey.org/

    Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidGJOHNS1
     
    Visit Planet B612 on the web: http://planetb612.fm/
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    Planet B612By Julie Laurin
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