Project: Chemical and biological sensors for the in situ determination of biogeochemical processes (R/ETE-13)

Principal Investigators: George Luther and Matthew Oliver, University of Delaware

Delaware Sea Grant researchers George Luther and Matt Oliver are using a new type of sensor to help determine how efficiently Delaware Bay phytoplankton grow. The sensor measures how changes in sunlight and nutrients affect the growth of the microscopic plants.

When phytoplankton occur in high concentrations — events known as blooms — they can degrade water quality and harm fish and other marine life. Knowing how efficiently the plants grow will help resource managers looking to monitor the bay’s health.

See below for the full project abstract.