Who? responsible for this? Molecular measures of microbial activity.

 Dr. Kerkhof's expertise is using molecular approaches to study the microbial ecology in a variety of systems. His interests include the development of new techniques for genetic analysis of marine and non-marine bacteria. The particular microbial groups he is studying include denitrifiers. nitrifiers. sulfate reducers. and Archaea. Dr. Kerkhof has recently been working at the Long-term Ecosystem Observatory (LEO-15) site off the New Jersey coast to elucidate specific linkages between bacteria and specific phytoplankton during blooms in the coastal ocean. Furthermore. he is currently establishing a microbial observatory in the Mid-Atlantic Bight system including quantitative information on the specific bacteria and phytoplankton which are active and relevant in the LEO-15 study area.