Current research is centred on the development of mechanistic models describing multi-nutrient interactions between plankton functional groups. Although models describing these groups (e.g. diatoms, microzooplankton) are included within climate change and regional seas models, where they play a dominant role in driving the biogeochemistry, these models are in the main very simplistic and incapable of describing the processes adequately. Models have been, and are being developed to better describe the activities of these organisms, associated with appropriate experimental studies.

Selected Publications

Glibert PM, Allen JI, Bouwman AF, Brown CW, FLYNN KJ, Lewitus AJ, Madden CJ. (2010) Modeling of HABs and Eutrophication: Status, Advances, Challenges Journal of Marine Systems 83; 262-275 doi:10.1016/j.marsys.2010.05.004.

FLYNN KJ (2010) Do external resource ratios matter? -  implications for modelling eutrophication events and controlling harmful algal blooms. Journal of Marine Systems 83; 170-180

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ (2010) Modelling mixotrophy in harmful algal blooms: More or less the sum of the parts? Journal of Marine Systems 83; 158-169

Rose KA, Allen JI, Artioli Y, Barange M, Blackford J, Carlotti F, Cropp R, Daewel U, Edwards K, FLYNN K, Hill S, HilleRisLambers R, Huse G, Mackinson S, Megrey B, Moll A, Rivkin R, Salihoglu B, Schrum C, Shannon L, Shin Y, Smith SL, Smith C, Solidoro C, St. John M, Zhou M (2010) End-To-End Models for the Analysis of Marine Ecosystems: Challenges, Issues, and Next Steps. Marine & Coastal Fisheries  2; 115-130 (doi 10.1577/C09-059.1)

FLYNN KJ, Greenwell HC, Lovitt RW, Shields RJ (2010) Selection for fitness at the individual or population levels: modeling effects of genetic modifications in microalgae on productivity and environmental safety. Journal of Theoretical Biology 263; 269-280

Greenwell HC,  Laurens LML, Shields RJ, Lovitt RW, FLYNN KJ (2010) Placing microalgae on the biofuels priority list: a review of the technological challenges. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 6; 703-726 (doi: 10.1098/rsif.2009.0322)

FLYNN KJ (2010) Ecological modelling in a sea of variable stoichiometry; dysfunctionality and the legacy of Redfield and Monod. Progress in Oceanography 84; 52-65

FLYNN KJ, Raven JA,  Rees TAV, Finkel Z, Quigg, A, Beardall, J (2010) Is the growth rate hypothesis applicable to microalgae? Journal of Phycology 46, 1-12

Finkel ZV, Beardall J, FLYNN KJ, Quigg A, Rees TAV, Raven JA (2010)  Phytoplankton in a changing world: cell size and elemental stoichiometry. Journal of Plankton Research 32, 119-137

Raven JA, Beardall J, FLYNN KJ, Maberly SC (2009) Phagotrophy in the origins of photosynthesis in eukaryotes and as a complementary mode of nutrition in phototrophs: relation to Darwin’s insectivorous plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 60, 3975-3987

FLYNN KJ, (2009) Going for the slow burn: why should possession of a low maximum growth rate be advantageous for microalgae? Plant Ecology & Diversity 2; 179-189

FLYNN KJ, Mitra A (2009) Building the “perfect beast”: modelling mixotrophic plankton. Journal of Plankton Research 31; 965-992

FLYNN KJ, Irigoien X (2009) Why aldehyde-induced insidious effects cannot be considered as a diatom defence mechanism against copepods. Marine Ecology Progress Series 377, 79–89 (doi: 10.3354/meps07865)

Beardall J, Allen D, Bragg J, Finkel ZV, FLYNN KJ, Quigg A., Rees TAV, Richardson A, Raven JA (2009) Allometry and stoichiometry of unicellular, colonial and multicellular phytoplankton. New Phytologist doi 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02660.x

FLYNN KJ (2009) Food-density dependent inefficiency in animals with a gut as a stabilising mechanism in trophic dynamics. Proceedings of the Royal Society Lond. B 276, 1147–1152 (doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1575)

FLYNN KJ (2008) Attack is not the best form of defense; lessons from harmful algal bloom dynamics. Harmful Algae 8; 129-139

FLYNN KJ, Clark DR, Xue Y (2008) Modelling the release of dissolved organic matter by phytoplankton. J.Phycol. 44; 1171-1187

FLYNN KJ (2008) Use, abuse, misconceptions and insights from quota models: the Droop cell-quota model 40 years on. Oceanography & Marine Biology: An Annual Review 46; 1-23.

FLYNN KJ (2008) The importance of the form of the quota curve and control of non-limiting nutrient transport in phytoplankton models. Journal of Plankton Research 30; 423–438

Martel CM, FLYNN KJ (2008) Morphological controls on cannibalism in a planktonic marine phagotroph. Protist 159; 41-51

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ, (2007). Importance of interactions between food quality, quantity, and gut transit time on consumer feeding, growth, and trophic dynamics. American Naturalist 169; 632-646.

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ, Fasham MJR (2007). Accounting correctly for grazing dynamics in Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton models. Limnology & Oceanography 52; 649-661

Granéli E, FLYNN KJ (2006) Chemical And Physical Factors Influencing Toxin Production. In Ecology of Harmful Algae, eds E Granéli & JT Turner, Ecological Studies,Vol. 189; 229-241. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ, (2006). Accounting for variation in prey selectivity by zooplankton. Ecological Modelling 199; 82-92.FLYNN KJ (2006). Reply to Horizons Article ‘Plankton functional type modelling: running before we can walk’ Anderson (2005): II. Putting trophic functionality into plankton functional types.  Journal of Plankton Research 28; 873-876.

Fasham, M.J.R., FLYNN, K.J., Pondaven, P., Anderson, T.R., Boyd, P.W. (2006). Development of a robust ecosystem model to predict the role of iron on biogeochemical cycles: a comparison of results for iron-replete and iron-limited areas, and the SOIREE iron-enrichment experiment. Deep-Sea Research I 53; 333-366.

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ (2006) Promotion of harmful algal blooms by zooplankton predatory activity. BiologyLetters, 2; 194 – 197; doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0447.

Kruskopf M, FLYNN KJ (2006) Chl content and fluorescence responses cannot be used to gauge reliably phytoplankton biomass, nutrient status or growth rate. New Phytologist 169; 525-536.

FLYNN KJ (2005) Castles built on sand; dysfunctional plankton models and the failure of the biology-modelling interface. Journal of Plankton Research 27; 1205-1210

FLYNN KJ (2005) Modelling marine phytoplankton growth under eutrophic conditions. Journal of  Sea Research 54; 92-103.

Mitra A, FLYNN KJ (2005) Predator-prey interactions: is “ecological stoichiometry” sufficient when good food goes bad? Journal of Plankton Research 27; 393-399.

Jones RH, FLYNN KJ (2005) Nutritional status and diet composition affect the value of diatoms as copepod prey. Science 307; 1457-1459.

Irigoien X., FLYNN KJ, Harris RP (2005) Phytoplankton blooms: A ‘loophole’ in microzooplankton grazing impact? Journal of Plankton Research    27; 313-321.