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Email:
kamtang@vims.edu
Office: Maury Hall 212
Phone: (804) 684-7602
Research Interests
Planktonic and Microbial Processes
Our research is focused on the roles of marine microbial
and planktonic organisms in ecological and
biogeochemical processes. We combine laboratory experiments, field
observations and modeling to address a variety of research questions. Our
most recent work includes:
- Dynamics of microbial
communities on marine snow particles: Fluxes of marine snow particles
(marine detritus) are thought to be key mechanisms for transporting
carbon to the deep ocean. Yet, marine snow also densely harbours micro-organisms, whose activities transform
and degrade marine snow, with significant ramifications for carbon
fluxes. We study the dynamics of microbial communities on marine snow
particles, using experiments, observations and mathematical modeling.
Focuses are on colonization of marine snow by micro-organisms (bacteria,
protozoan, copepods) and species interactions
within the microbial communities on marine snow. [microbes and
marine snow]
- Copepod-bacteria
interactions: Traditionally, copepods and bacteria are viewed as two
separate groups of organisms in the ocean with minimal and indirect
interactions. Yet microscopy and bioassays reveal that the exterior and
interior of a copepod body is heavily colonized by bacteria, often at
densities many orders of magnitude higher than ambient free-living
bacteria. These dense bacterial clusters associated with copepods
provide many new and exciting research opportunities for oceanographers.
Some of the issues we have begun to work on are the effects of copepod's
feeding on the associated (gut) bacteria, and release of bacteria by
copepods during defecation and decomposition. My lab is also developing
and refining staining methods for quantifying copepod carcasses in the
natural environment. [CSI-copepod]
- Phaeocystis-grazer interactions: Phaeocystis is one of the
most dominant phytoplankton genera in the world's oceans. Massive blooms
of Phaeocystis
in coastal waters are detrimental to the economy and the environment. Phaeocystis
has a complex life cycle that alternates between small solitary cells (a
few micrometers) and large mucilaginous colonies (up to a few
millimeters). It has long been speculated that colony formation by Phaeocystis
is a defense mechanism against small grazers, although empirical
evidence is scarce. We are conducting experiments to measure the grazing
mortality of different life stages of Phaeocystis, the effects
of grazing on colony development in Phaeocystis, and the signalling mechanisms behind grazing-induced colony
enlargement. [grazing
and Phaeocystis
colony development]
- Effects of plankton on the
dynamics of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP):
DMSP is a ubiquitous organic sulfur compound synthesized by
phytoplankton in the marine environment, and is a precursor of the cloud
forming agent dimethyl sulfide (DMS). We are
studying how plankton affect the dynamics of
DMSP. Focuses are on trophic transfer of DMSP
through planktonic food chains, production and
degradation of DMSP and related compounds by plankton. [DMSP and the CLAW
hypothesis]
- Graduate study opportunity: Opportunities are available
for students interested in pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. in the area of
plankton/microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Candidates should have
strong background in natural science and strong quantitative skills.
Field/lab experience related to plankton/microbial research is highly
desirable. Assistantships are provided. Exceptional students may qualify
for fellowships. Interested individuals please send a brief description
of your academic background and experience. You may also contact me by
email or by phone for more information. Interested students please read on.
- A
Shifting Perspective
- Click here for my
CV.
- Click here for an inside
view of the lab.
- Click here to
see our Antarctic journey slide show (in powerpoint; takes about a minute to load).
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Current and Past Projects
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Selected Publications
(Click here for a
complete list of publications. Please contact me for reprints if interested.)
(* student co-authors under my
supervision)
Marine
Snow Study
- Tang KW, Grossart HP (2007) Iron effects
on colonization behavior, motility and enzymatic activity of marine
bacteria. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 53:968-974 [PDF]
- Yam EM*, Tang KW (2007) Starvation effects
on aggregate colonization and motility of marine bacteria. Aquatic
Microbial Ecology 48:207-215 [PDF]
- Grossart HP, Tang KW, Kiørboe T, Ploug H (2007) Comparison of cell-specific activity
between free-living and attached bacteria using isolates and natural
assemblages. FEMS Microbiology Letters 266:194-200 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Grossart HP, Yam EM*,
Jackson GA, Ducklow HW, Kiørboe T (2006) Mesocosm study of particle dynamics and control of
particle-associated bacteria by flagellate grazing. Marine Ecology
Progress Series 325:15-27 [PDF]
- Grossart HP, Kiørboe T, Tang KW, Allgaier
M, Yam EM*, Ploug H (2006) Interactions
between marine snow and heterotrophic bacteria: Aggregate formation and
microbial dynamics. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 42:19-26 [PDF]
Zooplankton Ecology and Physiology
- Thor P, Koski M, Tang KW, Jónasdóttir
SH (2007) Supplemental effects of diet mixing on absorption of ingested
organic carbon in the marine copepod Acartia tonsa. Marine Ecology Progress Series 331:131-138 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Hutalle KML, Grossart HP
(2006) Microbial abundance, composition and enzymatic activity during
decomposition of copepod carcasses. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 45:219-227
[PDF]
- Tang KW, Freund CS*, Schweitzer CL*
(2006) Occurrence of copepod carcasses in the lower Chesapeake Bay and
their decomposition by ambient microbes. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf
Science 68: 499-508 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Taal M* (2005) Trophic modification of food quality by
heterotrophic protists: Species-specific
effects on copepod egg production and egg hatching. Journal of
Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology 318: 85-98 [PDF]
- Tang KW (2005) Copepods as microbial
hotspots in the ocean: effects of host feeding activities on attached
bacteria. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 38: 31-40 [PDF]
Phaeocystis Ecology
- Nejstgaard JC, Tang KW, Steinke M, Dutz J,
Koski M, Antajan E, Long J (2007) Zooplankton grazing on Phaeocystis:
a quantitative review and future challenges. Biogeochemistry 83: 147-172
[PDF]
- Tang KW (2003) Grazing and colony
size development in Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae):
the role of a chemical signal. Journal of Plankton Research 25: 831-842 [PDF]
- Jakobsen HH, Tang KW (2002) Effects of protozoan grazing on colony formation in Phaeocystis globosa
(Prymnesiophyceae) and the potential costs and
benefits. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 27:261-273 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Jakobsen
HH, Visser AW (2001) Phaeocystis globosa
(Prymnesiophyceae) and the planktonic
food web: Feeding, growth and trophic
interactions among grazers. Limnology & Oceanography 46: 1860-1870 [PDF]
DMSP Biogeochemistry
- Besiktepe S, Tang KW, Vila M, Simó R (2004) Dimethylated
sulfur compounds in seawater, seston and mesozooplankton in the seas around Turkey. Deep-Sea
Research Part I 51: 1179-1197 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Simó
R (2003) Trophic
uptake and transfer of dimethylsulfoniopropionate
in simple planktonic food chains. Aquatic
Microbial Ecology 31: 193-202 [PDF]
- Tang KW, Visscher
PT, Dam HG (2001) DMSP-consuming bacteria associated with the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa (Dana). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology
& Ecology 256: 185-198 [PDF]
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Current and Former Lab Members
- David Elliott - PhD dissertation
"Non-consumptive Mortality of York River Zooplankton"
- Samantha Bickel - MS thesis
"Anthropogenic Causes of Copepod Mortality and Bacterial Exoenzymatic Activity associated with Carcass
Decomposition"
- Xiaodong Wang - visiting PhD student with
China Scholarship Council scholarship (2007-2009) (co-hosted by Dr.
Walker Smith)
- Emily Yam - MS thesis
"The Role of Bacteria-Particle Interactions in Marine Snow Dynamics"
- Completed June 2007
- Adriana Veloza - MS thesis "Transfer
of Essential Fatty Acids by Marine Plankton" (co-advised by Dr.
F.L. Chu) - Completed November 2005
- Alle Lie (2006 undergraduate intern; Chinese University of Hong Kong) - currently at Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Curtis Freund (2005/6
undergraduate intern; St. Cloud State University)
- Julie Galkiewicz (2006 undergraduate intern; College of William & Mary) - currently at University of South Florida
- Christopher Schweitzer (2005
CMER intern) - currently at Old Dominon University
- Letacia Sims (2004-5 DREAMS intern)
- currently at Wayne State Medical School
- Katia Chaterji
(2005 Virginia Governor's School intern)
- Zena Cardman
(2004 highschool volunteer) - currently at University of North Carolina
- Maiyai Taal (2003/4
undergraduate intern) - currently at Southampton University, UK
- Corey Bacchus (2004 REU
summer intern) - currently in England
- Lisa Marko (2003 REU summer
intern) - currently in Washington State University Vancouver
- Yassaman Pourkazemi
(2003 Virginia Governor's School intern) - currently at University of Virginia
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- MSCI
501L: Fundamentals of Marine Science Lab (Fall; 2003-2007)
- MSCI 652: Marine Plankton
Ecology (with Walker Smith and Hugh Ducklow;
Fall 2007)
- MSCI 660: Zooplankton Ecology
(with Debbie Steinberg; Spring in alternate years)
- MSCI 698: Ecological Stoichiometry (with Emmett Duffy; Spring 2004)
- MSCI 698: Physical
Perspectives in Plankton Ecology (Spring 2003)
- Click here to see
students' evaluations of my teaching performance.
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Faculty and Student Awards
- Visiting
scientist, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries,
Germany, May-June 2008
- Invited instructor, Nordic Marine Academy advanced course, The challenge of Pelagic Feeding: From prey detection
to secondary production in contrasting pelagic food webs. Hirtshals, Denmark, August
22-31, 2007
- Invited instructor,
Integrative Aquatic Microbial-Plankton Ecology (4 credits graduate
level). University of São Paulo, Brazil, April
17-27, 2007
- Selected participant,
Mathematical Biosciences Institute Workshop (Microbial Ecology), Ohio State University, May 2006
- Invited instructor,
Experimental approaches in marine zooplankton ecology: Concepts and
strategies toward global change research. University of São Paulo, Brazil, December 2004
- TUBITAK-BAYG-Visiting
Scientist, Middle East Technical University, Turkey, February-March 2002
- NorFA Mobility Scholarship, Norway, October 2001
- Selected participant,
ASLO-DIALOGIV, 2001
- Postdoctoral scholarship,
Carlsberg Foundation, Denmark, 2000-2002
- Andres J Nalwalk
Memorial Award, University of Connecticut, 2000
- Selected participant,
National Research Council Fifty Years of Ocean Discovery Symposium, USA, 1998
- Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of
Research, 1998
- Edward Victor Gant
Scholarship, University of Connecticut, 1997
- Emily Yam --- VIMS 2008 Best
Student Paper Award for the paper:
· Yam EM, Tang
KW (2007)
Starvation effects on aggregate colonization and motility of marine bacteria.
Aquatic Microbial Ecology 48:207-215
- Samantha Bickel --- Reves
Graduate Student International Travel Grant (2007)
- Adriana Veloza --- VIMS 2006
Best Student Paper Award for the paper:
· Veloza AJ, Chu
FL, Tang KW (2006) Trophic modification of
essential fatty acids by heterotrophic protists and
its effects on the fatty acid composition of the copepod Acartia tonsa. Marine Biology 148:779-788
- Emily Yam --- Reves Graduate Student International Travel Grant
(2005)
- Adriana Veloza --- ERF conference "Top
50 Students" award (2005)
- Adriana Veloza --- Hispanic Scholarship
Fund Scholar (2003-2004)
- Adriana Veloza --- Sigma Xi GIAR
(2003-2004)
- Maiyai Taal --- ASLO-SAML
Outstanding Student Presentation Award (2004)
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Professional Memberships
- American Society of Limnology
and Oceanography
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research
Society
- Eco-ethics International
Union
- Union of Concerned Scientists
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Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Efforts
- Biology
and ecology of Phaeocystis antarctica --- w/ Walker Smith (VIMS)
- Experimental and modelling study of microbial community dynamics on
marine snow particles --- w/ Hugh Ducklow
(VIMS), George Jackson (Texas A&M), Thomas Kiørboe (Denmark), Hans-Peter
Grossart and Helle Ploug
(Germany)
- Copepod-bacteria interactions
--- w/ Hans-Peter Grossart (Germany)
- Assessment of in situ copepod
mortality --- w/ Sengul Besiktepe (Turkey), Ruben Lopes
(Brazil), Sigrun Jónasdóttir (Denmark), Samina
Kidwai (Pakistan)
- DREAMS - Diversity in
Research in Environmental And Marine Sciences --- w/ Hampton University, Elizabeth City State University and University of South Carolina
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