CONCLUDING REMARKS: PROMISES AND LIMITATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL CELL
AND PARTICLE ANALYSIS
P. G. Falkowski l , S. Demers2, and L. Legendre 3
lOceanographic and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, U.S.A.
2Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli,
Quebec, Canada, G5H 3Z4
3Departement de biologie, Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec,
Canada, G lK 7P4
At the present time, there are two philosophical schools of thought addressing the major
research questions in biological oceanography. On the one hand, many biological (and
chemical) oceanographers are interested in quantifying the major geochemical cycles mediated
by biological processes. Up to now, biogeochemists have been attempting to scale up
shipboard or in situ measurements, using either satellite images and/or large circulation
models, in order to assess the importance of specific processes to global geochemical cycles.
These researchers have, for the most part, used bulk measurements to reach their objectives.
On the other hand, a large number of biologists (and some chemists) are concerned with
describing the structure of biological or particle assemblages, and relating these structures to
the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment. These scientists are attempting
to scale down bulk measurements, and to develop techniques capable of measuring individual
cells or particles rapidly and differentially. While biogeochemists and community biologists
share some common goals, their approaches differ markedly. We propose to partake, here,
our thoughts about the present and potential roles of individual cell and particle analysis in
oceanography, and give our opinions about the promises and limitations of this type of
analyses in aquatic sciences. Our comments will mainly address biological issues.
The size spectrum of primary producers, as well as the differential rates of primary production
and sedimentation, are fundamental attributes of aquatic ecosystems (e.g., Takahashi and
NATO ASI Series, Vol. G 27
Particle Analysis in Oceanography
Edited by S. Demers
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1991
AND PARTICLE ANALYSIS
P. G. Falkowski l , S. Demers2, and L. Legendre 3
lOceanographic and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, U.S.A.
2Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli,
Quebec, Canada, G5H 3Z4
3Departement de biologie, Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec,
Canada, G lK 7P4
At the present time, there are two philosophical schools of thought addressing the major
research questions in biological oceanography. On the one hand, many biological (and
chemical) oceanographers are interested in quantifying the major geochemical cycles mediated
by biological processes. Up to now, biogeochemists have been attempting to scale up
shipboard or in situ measurements, using either satellite images and/or large circulation
models, in order to assess the importance of specific processes to global geochemical cycles.
These researchers have, for the most part, used bulk measurements to reach their objectives.
On the other hand, a large number of biologists (and some chemists) are concerned with
describing the structure of biological or particle assemblages, and relating these structures to
the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment. These scientists are attempting
to scale down bulk measurements, and to develop techniques capable of measuring individual
cells or particles rapidly and differentially. While biogeochemists and community biologists
share some common goals, their approaches differ markedly. We propose to partake, here,
our thoughts about the present and potential roles of individual cell and particle analysis in
oceanography, and give our opinions about the promises and limitations of this type of
analyses in aquatic sciences. Our comments will mainly address biological issues.
The size spectrum of primary producers, as well as the differential rates of primary production
and sedimentation, are fundamental attributes of aquatic ecosystems (e.g., Takahashi and
NATO ASI Series, Vol. G 27
Particle Analysis in Oceanography
Edited by S. Demers
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1991