Plankton Ecology of the Southwestern Atlantic: From the Subtropical to the Subantarctic Realm

Dr. M. S. Hoffmeyer is a marine ecologist and a researcher of the National Council of Scientific and Technical research (CONICET) at the National Institute of Oceanography (IADO), Bahía Blanca. She graduated at La Plata National University (1978) and received her Doctoral degree in La Plata University, Argentina (1987), completing part of her doctoral thesis at the Institut de Ciencies del Mar de Barcelona, Spain (1983-1984). Currently, her projects focus on micro- and mesozooplankton structure and dynamics as well as on the eco-physiological effects produced by natural and global change-anthropogenic drivers in Argentina and Antarctica estuaries and coasts. Recently has started a project on transference of phycotoxins into the pelagic food web of temperate shelf region in Argentina. She has published more than 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, some book chapters and over 100 presentations to congresses and conferences experience in book edition. She was advisor of Ph.D. (7) and co-advisor (2) theses and at present, three Ph.D. theses in development. Dr. Hoffmeyer is reviewer for the journals Aquaculture, Journal of Plankton Research, Hydrobiologia and member of Editorial Board of Brazilian Journal of Oceanography and has coedited a book.

Dr. M. E. Sabatini is a biological oceanographer and a researcher of the Argentinian Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) at the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), Mar del Plata. After receiving her Doctoral degree in Argentina (UNS, Bahía Blanca) she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Danish Institute for Fisheries Research (1992-1994). Her research interests focus on the control of plankton production and biodiversity in shelf areas, with special emphasis on the role of mesozooplankton (copepods). Currently, she is working on projects in zooplankton dynamics and physical interactions in the southern Patagonian shelf (SW Atlantic, 47°-55°S). She served on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Plankton Research (2004-2009) and Revista de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (2001-2007). She has published over 60 scientific papers, chapters and technical reports.

Dr. F.P. Brandini is a marine ecologist working at the Oceanographic Institute of São Paulo University, Brazil. He took his Doctoral Degree (1983-1986) at São Paulo University on primary production and plankton dynamics in the southeast Brazilian shelf. Since 1981 he has been working on the ecology and population dynamics of phytoplankton in subtropical estuaries, shelf areas and oceanic waters of the Southwest Atlantic and in Antactic ecosystems, as part of national and international projects. His current scientific interests are the role of the plankton system on the water column biogeochemistry of carbon and nitrogen in coastal, shelf and in the deep oligotrophic South Atlantic; and the diversity and population dynamics of pico-eukariotes and prokariotes in shelf and oceanic waters off Brazil. He has published 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, wrote 2 books, edited and co-edited 5 books, and has given various presentations to international congresses, conferences and scientific meetings. He has advised 14 PhD. thesis and 25 Master's dissertation

Dr. D. Calliari is appointed Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República (Udelar), Uruguay. He has a Bachelor Degree in Biology (UdelaR) and a PhD in Oceanography (University of Concepción, Chile). His academic interests are oriented towards the investigation of energy flows and matter cycles in the marine pelagic, and to the understanding of eco-physiological responses of the zooplankton to environmental forcing with emphasis on copepods and mysids. He has developed most of his field research in coastal marine ecosystems, particularly in different types of estuaries in Northern Europe and South America, including the large-scale Rio de la Plata.

Dr. N. Santinelli is Oceanographer and Ph.D. in Biology Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Professor of UNPSJB. Research interests: Ecology and biology of microalgae from aquatic environments, with special emphasis on species that produce algal blooms and invasive behaviour. Jury to qualify applicants for the Lic. Biological Sciences's title. Director and Co-Director of fellowships on topics related to ecology of aquatic communities and harmful algal blooms. Co- adviser in "Evaluation of Harmful algal blooms of the coast of the Chubut province and its impact on fisheries bivalve molluscs"grant (CONICET). Co-adviser in "The invasive algae Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) Schmidt in the Andean area of the Chubut province, Argentina: origin of the invasion, genetic diversity and taxonomy" grant (CONICET). Director or co-director (19 research projects). Publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals: 35; book chapters: 3; and one book. Presentations in scientific meetings: 28. Participation in conferences, symposia and forums: national: 15; international: 18.