Why is this important?

Phytoplankton play an important role in regulating nutrient cycles and the climate. They are also a major food source for many organisms, acting as the base of marine food webs. In playing a major role in the global environment and climate systems, understanding the nature of their populations is crucial. This is especially important, as global warming is modifying ocean conditions, heavily changing phytoplankton dynamics. Understanding the causes and effects underlying this process can lead to fuller scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystems as well as climate and environmental systems at large. The information provided by the computational models created for this project may also help policymakers with managing marine ecosystems.