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Maine Scientists Study Pacific Phytoplankton

EAST BOOTHBAY, Maine — Five Maine scientists will spend the next three weeks traversing the Pacific Ocean studying how phytoplankton affect the nutrient cycles of the ocean.

The scientists are from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay. A spokeswoman for the lab says they will travel from Honolulu toward the Equator studying the relationship between phytoplankton biology and the ocean's chemistry. Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live near the ocean's surface and play a critical role in the ocean's food web.

The scientists left on Wednesday and will return to Honolulu on Oct. 8 before coming back to Maine. Their work will include testing phytoplankton for levels of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous.