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A National Ocean Service/National Center for Coastal Ocean Science Program

Phytoplankton Monitoring Network

Promoting a better understanding of harmful algal blooms by way of volunteer monitoring

About Us

Steve Morton, PhD.

Dr. Steve MortonContact Information:

Clonal culture and taxonomy of Pfiesteria, Gambierdiscus, and other toxic dinoflagellates; Mass culture for toxin production

My research interests are two fold: the taxonomy and distribution of phytoplankton and the utilization of volunteers to monitor marine and estuarine phytoplankton. On the taxonomic side of my research we have described a number of new species isolated from the United States and throughout the world. We are also in the process of developing new microscopic methods utilizing scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The second part of my research is centered on the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network which is made up of volunteers ranging from middle school student to retired citizen groups.

Education
  • Ph.D., 1994, Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University
  • M.Sc., 1990, Biological Oceanography, Florida Institute of Technology
  • B.Sc., 1988, Biological Oceanography, Florida Institute of Technology
Professional Appointments
  • 1998-present: Research Oceanographer/Project Leader, NOAA/NOS, Marine Biotoxin Program
  • 1997-2001: Research Fellow, Smithsonian Institution Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
  • 1996-1998: Curator, Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton
  • 1996-1998: Research Scientist, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science
  • 1994-1998: Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, Southern Illinois University
Professional Activities
  • 2005: Invited to participate in the International Symposium on Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms
  • 2000-present: Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Harmful Algae
  • 2004-present: Scientific Board of Directors, The Living Black Sea
  • 2003: Local Organizing Committee Chairperson, National Plan for Marine Biotoxins and HABs.
Representative Publications
  • Vershinin, A. and S.L. Morton. 2005. Protoperidinium ponticum sp. nov (Dinophyceae) from the North-East Black Sea. Botanaica Marina 48: 244-247.
  • Vershinin, A.O., A. A. Moruchkov, I. N. Sukhanova, A. N. Kamnev, S. L. Pankov, S. L. Morton, J. S. Ramsdell (2005). Potentially Toxic Algae in Northeast Black Sea Coastal Phytoplankton in 2000-2002. Oceanology 45(2) 224-232.
  • Milulski, C.M, S.L. Morton, and G.J. Doucette (2005). Development and application of LSU rRNA probes for Karenia brevis in the Gulf of Mexico, USA. Harmful Algae 4:49-60.
  • Guillard, R.R.L and S.L. Morton. 2003. Culture Techniques. In: G.M. Hallegraeff, D.M. Anderson, and A.D. Cembella (eds). Manual of Harmful Algae. pp 77-98.
  • Morton, S.L., M.A. Faust E.A. Fairey and P.D.R Moeller. 2002. Morphology and toxicology of Prorocentrum arabenium sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a toxic marine dinoflagellate from the Arabian Sea. Journal of Harmful Algae 4(1):393-400.