The Ecology of Marine Snow

海洋雪是水柱中直径在500微米或更大的所有聚集颗粒的总称。这种大小范围的集合体在世界各地的海洋中都很丰富。它们由藻类、细菌、原生动物、碎屑、有机和无机碎片组成，通常嵌在粘液基质中。海洋中的许多表面衍生物质以大颗粒海洋雪粒的形式流入海洋内部和海底。奥尔德里奇博士将继续她在海洋积雪形成方面的工作。这一主题对海洋中的营养物质再生和这些颗粒作为潜在食物来源的作用具有重大意义。她将从事两个领域的工作。一是表征微环境中营养物质的再生，二是研究硅藻(浮游植物)在絮凝中的作用。这项研究是一个非常成功的研究项目的延续，该项目在过去三年中一直得到资助。

Marine snow is a generic term for all aggregated particles in the water column which are 500um or larger in diameter. Aggregates in this size range are abundant throughout the world's oceans. They are composed of algae, bacteria protozoa, detritus organic and inorganic debris often embedded in a mucus matrix. Much of the surface derived matter in the ocean fluxes to the ocean interior and sea floor as large particles of marine snow. Dr. Alldredge will continue her work on marine snow formation. The topic is of significant interest in terms of nutrient regeneration in the ocean and the role of these particles as a potential as a food source. There are two areas of work which she will pursue. The first is to characterize the nutrient regeneration in the microenvironments and the second is to investigate the role of diatoms (phytoplankton) in flocculation. This research is a continuation of a very successful research project which has been funded for the last three years.