Phytoplankton Ecology

Much of the phytoplankton research in the Kudela lab revolves around Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs. HABs occur when one or several species of phytoplankton bloom rapidly and result in conditions harmful to other marine species or humans. HABs can cause harm through several mechanisms, including toxin production and oxygen depletion. The Kudela lab works to understand why some species produce toxins and whether certain conditions can lead to dangerous blooms, as well as developing reliable methods of bloom prediction and detection. This kind of research can help policy makers, fisheries managers, and public health officials make informed decisions about marine management.

Phytoplankton Background Information

Monterey Bay Harmful Algal Blooms

Phytoplankton Identification Gallery

Weekly Phytoplankton Sampling Blog

Left to right - Alexandrium, Akashiwo and Pseudo-nitzschia. These three genera are responsible for many HAB events in Monterey Bay.