Dr. Michael Carlson, September 2026 Snapshot
Dr. Michael Carlson, an assistant professor of biological oceanography in the Biological Sciences Department, and his team of student researchers seek to better understand the balance of life and death in the oceans and critically assess ocean health. The Carlson Lab is developing the ability to detect the most important viruses, pathogens, and parasites that kill photosynthetic organisms in the oceans.
Half of earth's oxygen production and carbon fixation occurs in the oceans, largely mediated by billions upon billions of fast-growing photosynthetic microbes called phytoplankton. Every day, massive numbers of these microbes die, balancing their rapid growth. Once they die, marine phytoplankton become the food that sustains marine food webs.
The balance between growth and death in the oceans is changing due to anthropogenic influences, which has large implications for how matter and energy move through the marine food web. Oceanographic research is highly reliant on shipboard sample collection which limits the geographic and seasonal extent of available data and impedes the ability to assess ocean change in real-time, so the Carlson Lab is building a multi-annual and global-scale record to evaluate how long-term changes affect marine algae and their viruses. In particular, they are synthesizing and harmonizing large genomic datasets to give insight on the global-scale patterns of phytoplankton mortality. The lab then uses the data from field and laboratory research to generate models that can forecast how phytoplankton communities and their predators might respond to future ocean conditions.
This information could help target regions or organisms that might be of value for conservation or further study. The Carlson Lab also fundamentally believes that understanding the ocean is a raison d'être in that it is intrinsically valuable to comprehend the vast and complex systems that govern our planet. By deepening knowledge of the oceans, the Carlson Lab not only enhances our ability to protect these ecosystems but also contributes to a broader understanding of the Earth's climate, biodiversity, and the intricate web of life that sustains humanity.
front row: Kassandra Gutierrez ('25), Kayla Hoang ('24), and Charmaine Vergara ('26).
