Unseen World of the Sea

Would it surprise you that algae, which are microscopic organisms, can be seen from space? A type of alga called Emiliania huxleyi forms large aggregations in oceans known as blooms, which are visible in satellite images. These events could potentially lead to the absorption of a huge amount of atmospheric carbon and directly affect our planet’s climate. Surprisingly, the species responsible for this event's termination is a tiny virus, which, like a wildfire in a forest, rapidly propagates and abruptly terminates the bloom. During this semilab, you will learn about a multitude of tiny marine creatures, from viruses to nekton, and their roles in the interconnected marine ecosystem. We will make our own seawater, grow our own algae, encounter a large variety of marine micro and macroorganisms, explore the microbial life of Silver Lake, and learn how oceanographic research is done in the field. Dive into the unseen world of the sea!