Ultra-Fine Art of Coccolithophores

Colin Fischer William

This book is a collection of images of coccolithophores (microscopic phytoplankton that cover themselves with micro-meter-sized limestone plates called coccoliths). The book is meant to celebrate the amazing morphological diversity of this group of microalgae. These images were prepared from samples taken during our many field campaigns around the world over the last few decades. This book is all about appreciating the beauty of these organisms at the micrometer size scale as well as some of the underlying science that connects them to our planet. Yes, these are organisms that integrate entire sub-disciplines within oceanography but they also can be appreciated for the intricate artistry of nature in form and function, as expressed in their coccoliths. These organisms, singularly responsible for producing these elaborate, calcium carbonate scales, collectively have an immense impact on the global carbon cycle as well as the optical reflectance of the world ocean. Examining them at different size scales emphasizes that coccolithophores are an integral part of the ocean ecology and essential part of the biodiversity of the planet. It is for these reasons that we have compiled this book of scanning electron microscope images, to communicate not only the scientific importance of this algal class but also their amazing beauty.