Phytoplankton and its biotic interactions: Colin Reynolds’ legacy to phytoplankton ecologists

Abstract

The 18th workshop of the International Associationfor Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology (IAP), thefirst ??tropical?? IAP ever, the third one outside Europe,and the first one in South America, was held in Natal,Brazil, from August 27 to September 3, 2017, and itsmain ecological theme was the Phytoplankton and itsbiotic interactions. The taxonomic topic of the workshopwas chosen based on function instead ofphylogeny, and to link to the ecological theme of theworkshop, the taxonomic theme was therefore centeredon mixotrophic microalgae.The IAP is much more than an internationalscientific society. It is a circle of friends, initiallygrouping because of their love for phytoplankton andthen just for the pleasure to meet each other (anddiscuss about phytoplankton). Three of these friends,Giuseppe (Peppe) Morabito, Jaroslava (Jarka) Koma´rkova´, and Colin Reynolds passed away since our lastmeeting in Greece.