Estimation of genetic diversity in the colony forming polar prymnesiophyte species Phaeocystis antarctica

This thesis provides a detailed insight into genetic diversity among and between Phaeocystis antarctica populations from different regions of the Southern Ocean and the gene flow between them. Genetic, physiological and ecological results are discussed in a broader view giving valuable insights into the ecology of this keystone species in the Southern Ocean. This work is opening a new field of research on P. antarctica, which can be termed 'ecophysiological genetics'. By combining genetic data with results from ecological investigations and physiological experiments, a broader understanding of ecosystem functioning will also direct future studies.