Ecology of Marine and Freshwater Protists

Research on freshwater and marine protists and microalgae ecology is a dynamic field that emphasizes the procedures of limnology and oceanography. However, the field needs diverse research articles highlighting the biological approach, such as life histories, reproductive mechanisms, photosynthetic efficiency, quorum sensing, and metabolic rates. These are crucial elements that require further investigation and will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the ecology of marine and freshwater protists.

With its broad spectrum and diverse conceptual range, the proposed topic has the potential to impact the ecology of aquatic environments substantially.

Contributions can cover the following sub-topics:

- Cosmopolitanism, microalgae and protists blooms, ecological niches, trophic level affinities, Redfield ratio, concept of limiting environment and related issues

- Kinetics of RuBisCO types and the evolution of carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs)

- Seasonal blooms and nutrient concentration as well as the balance of organic and inorganic carbon

- Relationship of adaptations of these kinetics to the origin and kinship relationships between freshwater and marine groups

- Heterotrophic, photosynthetic or mixotrophic modes of life, including kleptoplasty

This Research Topic considers various article types, such as brief research reports, original research, mini-reviews and reviews.

In addition, we are particularly interested in original research articles that provide detailed methodological descriptions of protocols under development, e.g., possible transfer functions between process components and studies exploring the role of marine and freshwater protists in the framework of environmental adaptation for O2/CO2 balance and dissolved nutrient relationships.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: photosynthetic efficiency, carbon limitation, oxygen and carbon dioxide balance, Redfield ratio, aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, ecological interactions, eukaryotic microbiome, productivity, role of carbon concentrating mechanisms

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.