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In the current project we aim to elucidate the role of heterotrophic protists in the Southeastern North Sea. This group of single-celled microzooplankton is largely comprised of nanoflagellates, ciliates and dinoflagellates that feed on phytoplankton, prokaryotes and other heterotrophic protists. In the marine pelagic environment they contribute strongly to microeukaryote abundance and diversity and play a pivotal role in many processes such as grazing of microbial primary and secondary production, cycling of nitrogen and phosphorous, and the transfer of energy and nutritional compounds to higher trophic levels. The main focus is on the annual variation in the role of heterotrophic protists in transferring essential lipids to higher trophic levels.
