Mariia Shulgina, Lead Specialist of the Primorsky Aquarium Shared Equipment Facility, defended a dissertation for a Candidate of Biology degree. She told us about of her dissertation entitled “Species composition, seasonal and long-term dynamics of quantitative characteristics of the diatom genus Thalassiosira (Bacillariophyta) in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan”, its contribution to the field of algal studies and about the support from her colleagues during the research process.
Thalassiosira is one of the main components of marine phytoplankton, but it is not adequately explored in the waters of Russia. Species of this genus are widespread over the oceans in all climatic zones. They can cause algal blooms in the temperate and polar waters, and sometimes these blooms are toxic for marine life. Making up a considerable proportion of phytoplankton during certain periods, these algae significantly contribute to the productivity of ecosystems and are an integral component of community structure.
“Most part of my research has been carried out here, in the Primorsky Aquarium labs. Every day my colleagues and I tested sea water samples, cultured microalgae, examined them under microscopes and analyzed the results in scientific papers,” said Mariia.
She confessed that she was very nervous before the presentation, but managed to pull herself together and defended her dissertation with confidence.
“To succeed in the defense and to stand out in scientific community was important for me, for my professional development in this area of research. A scientific degree is a key indicator of a researcher’s qualification,” added Mariia.