Concluding Remarks: Promises and Limitations of Individual Cell and Particle Analysis

Abstract

At the present time, there are two philosophical schools of thought addressing the major research questions in biological oceanography. On the one hand, many biological (and chemical) oceanographers are interested in quantifying the major geochemical cycles mediated by biological processes. Up to now, biogeochemists have been attempting to scale up shipboard or in situ measurements, using either satellite images and/or large circulation models, in order to assess the importance of specific processes to global geochemical cycles. These researchers have, for the most part, used bulk measurements to reach their objectives. On the other hand, a large number of biologists (and some chemists) are concerned with describing the structure of biological or particle assemblages, and relating these structures to the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment. These scientists are attempting to scale down bulk measurements, and to develop techniques capable of measuring individual cells or particles rapidly and differentially. While biogeochemists and community biologists share some common goals, their approaches differ markedly. We propose to partake, here, our thoughts about the present and potential roles of individual cell and particle analysis in oceanography, and give our opinions about the promises and limitations of this type of analyses in aquatic sciences. Our comments will mainly address biological issues.