Benthic recruitment for planktonic dinoflagellates: an experimental approach

Life cycles of planktonic species constitute a quite newly explored mechanism of benthic-pelagic coupling in marine ecosystems. The encystment/excystment patterns of plankton's resting stages represent a two-way dynamics that strongly influence the structure of planktonic communities. In this study the "benthos to pelagos" direction was investigated using laboratory microcosms to explore how the excystment of resting stages can influence the plankton dynamics in the water column.