Feedback and Constraint on Heterotrophic Bacterial Growth in
Aquatic Ecosystems
James Cotner. University of Minnesota, Dept. Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Seminar at University of Minnesota-Duluth, Biology Dept. April 17, 1998
Abstract: Dr. Cotner has been studying interactions of microbes with nutrient cycles in
freshwater and marine systems, small lakes, large lakes, estuaries and large
oceans for 15 years. He is especially interested in the role of microbes in
the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. His work is focused on the
effects of microbes on biogeochemical cycles, especially nitrogen, phosphorus
and carbon. Because of their relatively high nutrient requirements, especially
in oligotrophic systems, they are an important constraint on nutrient availability.
His discussion at U of M-Duluth will examine the effects on heterotrophic bacteria
on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in small lakes, the North Atlantic Ocean and
some very recent work on the recurrent coastal plume in Lake Michigan. This latter
work is associated with the NSF/NOAA jointly-funded EEGLE project and has relevance
to the KITES project that is being funded for work on Lake Superior.