Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
17 Biological Lane
St. George's GE 01
Bermuda
Tel: 441-297-1880 ext. 703
Fax: 441-297-8143
E-mail: Michael.lomas@bios.edu



Specialization:
Phytoplankton Physiological Ecology

Profile:
Dr. Lomas received his Ph.D. in biological oceanography in 1999 from the University of Maryland, where he studied the nitrogen metabolism of marine phytoplankton in response to variable light, and therefore cellular energy, environments. He was a postdoctoral scholar at Horn Point Laboratory in the Harmful Algal Research Group before joining BIOS's Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) team in 2001. His primary interest is studying the ecological linkages between phytoplankton functional diversity and nutrient biogeochemical cycling. Dr. Lomas is currently involved in several projects, including: examining long-term patterns in phytoplankton diversity at BATS and relationships to ocean carbon cycling; the role of winter mixing on altering phytoplankton community structure and enhancing biologically mediated carbon export; and utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus substrates by phytoplankton taxonomic groups. He is an adjunct faculty of the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, where he teaches a core course in biological oceanography as part of the Beaufort-to-Bermuda Program.

Current Research:
Dissolved organic phosphorus hydrolysis and assimilation by marine autotrophs and heterotrophs.

Relationships between environmental and phytoplankton community variability and its impact on the global carbon cycle.

Delineation of phytoplankton functional groups and determination of their physiological plasticity for inclusion in global ecosystem models.

Development of new techniques employing flow cytometry as an 'investigative' tool in ocean sciences.

Educational Background:

• B.S. Marine Biology and Marine Chemistry, Southampton Campus of Long Island University, 1994
• Ph.D. Biological Oceanography, University of Maryland at College Park, 1999

Selected Publications:

• Lomas, M.W.and F. Lipschultz. Forming the Primary Nitrite Maximum: Phytoplankton or Nitrifiers? (Limnology and Oceanography: Reviews).
• Lomas M.W. and N.R. Bates. 2004. Interannual variability in primary production partitioning in the Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Research I, 51:1619-1636.
• Lomas, M.W., A. Swain, R. Shelton and J.W. Ammerman. 2004. Taxonomic diversity of phosphorus limitation in the Sargasso Sea. Limnology and Oceanography, 49:2303-2310.