RV Pelagia MOMAP-2

Cruise plan

Cruise Info.
Ship name (ship code)	RV Pelagia (64PE)
Cruise identifier	MOMAP-2
Cruise period	2003-07-08 — 2003-07-21
Status	Completed
Purpose	Research
Objectives	The cruise program is part of a fundamental study of cell mortality of phytoplankton in ecosystems with contrasting trophic status. There are two cruises planned for the North Sea, of which the first one was executed last year. The second cruise is planned for Summer 2003 and will cover the Summer situation (in contrast to the cruise of 2002 that covered the Spring situation). Focus during the cruise will be on the role of viral lysis of unicellular algae. The importance of this form of cell mortality will be assessed for a summer situation, when essential nutrients are only present in very low abundances and the water column is likely stratified. A few of the stations will be comparable to last year. On the main stations a drifting buoy will be released, to allow us to study for 24-32 hours the same water mass. Depth profiles will be studied for phytoplankton, bacteria, viruses, nutrients and various growth and loss factors. At the end of the specific station, the buoy will be retrieved from the water. The program is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the NIOZ.
Chief scientist	Corina Brussaard (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)
Ocean/sea areas
General	North Atlantic Ocean Skagerrak North Sea