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Gayantonia Franze

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Researcher
Telephone: 48099230
Department: Plankton

Curriculum Vitae

With 14 years of experience as a Biological Oceanographer specializing in Plankton Ecology, I have successfully managed research projects throughout their lifecycle, both in the laboratory and in the field, consistently delivering scientific results through peer-reviewed publications and governmental and international reports. Since 2019, I have been working as a Research Scientist at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), where my research focuses on monitoring the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on microbial physiology, community structure, and function across various aquatic ecosystems.

In 2020, I became the project leader for the long-term project "Monitoring of Climate and Plankton in the North Sea and Skagerrak." Running under different forms since 2006, this project collects essential data for multiple IMR projects and supports the work of several ICES working groups, including WGINOS, WGMPE, WGZE, HAWG, WGALES, and WGSINS. The North Sea Ecosystem Cruise platform has also been used by numerous pilot and short-term projects due to the extensive coverage of the North Sea we provide.

Since 2022, I have been leading the "Ecosystem Response to Darkening of the Coastal Zone – Food Web Implications" project, which aims to understand the effects of increased land runoff on plankton and its cascading impacts on higher trophic levels, including commercially important species and fundamental ecosystem services. My role in these projects extends beyond project management; I design, plan, and execute monitoring plans and experimental procedures while overseeing and mentoring technicians to achieve the highest quality results. Since joining IMR, I have played a key role in advancing imaging analysis techniques, such as FLOWCAM, and have strengthened the taxonomic skills of our team, particularly in microzooplankton identification.

My work involves extensive collaboration within IMR and with national and international colleagues. I am part in the PELAGIC project led by Dr. Johanna Aarflot and have co-authored a textbook chapter for the Arctic University with Dr. Nicole Aberle-Malzahn (NTNU) and Dr. Camilla Svensen (UIT). Additionally, I have established a fruitful collaboration with the Università di Napoli Federico II in Italy, mentoring five students (two master's and three Ph.D. candidates) who conducted their thesis research at the Flødevigen station or during the North Sea Ecosystem cruise. This collaboration also led to my involvement as a co-advisor for a Ph.D. thesis and an invitation to join a 2025 research expedition to Antarctica, where I will contribute my expertise in microzooplankton ecology and polar system ecology.

Publications

Academic articles

2023

Interactive effects of nutrients and temperature on herbivorous predation in a coastal plankton community

Gayantonia Franzè, Stephanie I Anderson, Joshua D Kling, Paul Wilburn, David A Hutchins, Elena Litchman, Tatiana A Rynearson, Susanne Menden‐Deuer,
Limnology and Oceanography 68 p. 144-157
2022

The Interactive Effects of Temperature and Nutrients on a Spring Phytoplankton Community

Anderson Stephanie, Gayantonia Franzè
Limnology and Oceanography
2022

The interactive effects of temperature and nutrients on a spring phytoplankton community SI Anderson, G Franzè, JD Kling, P Wilburn, CT Kremer, ...

Stephanie I Anderson, Gayantonia Franzè, Joshua D Kling, Paul Wilburn, Colin T Kremer, Susanne Menden‐Deuer, Elena Litchman, David A Hutchins, Tatiana A Rynearson
Limnology and Oceanography 67 (3) p. 634-345
2021

Seasonal variability in planktonic food web structure and function of the Northeast U.S. Shelf

Pierre Marrec, Heather McNair, Gayantonia Franzè, Francoise Morison, Jacob P. Strock, Susanne Menden-Deuer
Limnology and Oceanography 66 p. 1440-1458
2021

Seasonal variability in planktonic food web structure and function of the Northeast US Shelf

P. Marrec, H. McNair, G. Franzè, F. Morison, J. P. Strock and S. Menden‐Deuer
Limnology and Oceanography 66 (4) p. 1440-1458
2020

Common temperature-growth dependency and acclimation response in three herbivorous protists

Gayantonia Franzè, Susanne Menden-Deuer
Marine Ecology Progress Series 634 p. 1-13
2020

Multi-Instrument Assessment of Phytoplankton Abundance and Cell Sizes in Mono-Specific Laboratory Cultures and Whole Plankton Community Composition in the North Atlantic

Susanne Menden-Deuer, Francoise Morison, Amanda L. Montalbano, Gayantonia Franzè, Jacob Strock, Ewelina Rubin, Heather McNair, Colleen Mouw, Pierre Marrec
Frontiers in Marine Science 7
2020

Storm-induced predator-prey decoupling promotes springtime accumulation of North Atlantic phytoplankton

Francoise Morison, Elizabeth Harvey, Gayantonia Franzè, Susanne Menden-Deuer
Frontiers in Marine Science
2020

Light fluctuations are key in modulating plankton trophic dynamics and their impact on primary production

Morison F., Franzè G., Harvey E ., Menden‐Deuer S.
Limnology and Oceanography Letters 5 p. 346-353
2020

Multi-Instrument Assessment of Phytoplankton Abundance and Cell Sizes in Mono-Specific Laboratory Cultures and Whole Plankton Community Composition in the North Atlantic

Menden-Deuer S., Morison F., Montalbano A.L., Franzè G., Strock J., Rubin E., McNair H., Mouw C., Marrec P.
Frontiers in Marine Science 7 p. 254
2020

Common temperature-growth dependency and acclimation response in three herbivorous protists

Gayantonia Franzè, Susanne Menden-Deuer
Marine Ecology Progress Series 634 p. 1-13
2019

Storm-induced predator-prey decoupling promotes springtime accumulation of north atlantic phytoplankton

Francoise Morison, Elizabeth Harvey, Gayantonia Franzè, Susanne Menden-Deuer
Frontiers in Marine Science 6:608 p. 1-12
2019

Storm-induced predator-prey decoupling promotes springtime accumulation of North Atlantic phytoplankton

F. Morison, E. Harvey, G. Franzè and S. Menden-Deuer
Frontiers in Marine Science 6 p. 608
2019

Microzooplankton Distribution and Dynamics in the Eastern Fram Strait and the Arctic Ocean in May and August 2014

Peter J. Lavrentyev, Gayantonia Franzè, Francisco . B Moore
Frontiers in Marine Science 6:264
2019

Zooplankton communities associated with new and regenerated primary production in the Atlantic inflow north of Svalbard

Camilla Svensen, Elisabeth Halvorsen, Maria Vernet, Gayantonia Franzè, Katarzyna Dmorch, Peter J. Lavrentyev, Slawomir Kwasniewski
Frontiers in Marine Science 6
2019

Food web functions and interactions during spring and summer in the arctic water inflow region: Investigated through inverse modeling

Kalle Olli, Elisabeth Halvorsen, Maria Vernet, Peter J. Lavrentyev, Gayantonia Franzè, Marina Sanz-Martín, Maria Lund Paulsen, Marit Reigstad
Frontiers in Marine Science 6
2018

Herbivorous protist growth and grazing rates at in situ and artificially elevated temperatures during an Arctic phytoplankton spring bloom

Susanne Menden-Deuer, Caitlyn Lawrence, Gayantonia Franzè
PeerJ
2018

Diatom-produced allelochemicals trigger trophic cascades in the planktonic food web

Gayantonia Franzè, James Pierson, Diane K. Stoecker, Peter J. Lavrentyev
Limnology and Oceanography
2018

Herbivorous protist growth and grazing rates at in situ and artificially elevated temperatures during an Arctic phytoplankton spring bloom

Menden-Deuer S., C. Lawrence, G. Franzè
PeerJ 6:e5264
2018

Diatom-produced allelochemicals trigger trophic cascades in the planktonic food web.

Franzè G., J.J. Pierson, D.K. Stoecker, P.J. Lavrentyev,
Limnology and Oceanography 63 p. 1093-1108
2017

Microbial food web structure and dynamics across a natural temperature gradient in a productive polar shelf system

Gayantonia Franzè, Peter J. Lavrentyev
Marine Ecology Progress Series
2017

Microbial food web structure and dynamics across a natural temperature gradient in a productive polar shelf system

Franzè G. and P.J. Lavrentyev,
Marine Ecology progress Series 569 p. 89-102
2015

The Effect of Dissolved Polyunsaturated Aldehydes on Microzooplankton Growth Rates in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters

Peter J. Lavrentyev, Gayantonia Franzè, James Pierson, Diane K. Stoecker
Marine Drugs
2015

The Effect of Dissolved Polyunsaturated Aldehydes on Microzooplankton Growth Rates in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Water.

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franzè, J.J. Pierson, D.K. Stoecker
Marine Drugs 13 (5) p. 2834-2856
2014

The green–blue swing: plasticity of plankton food-webs in response to coastal oceanographic dynamics

Domenico D´Alelio, Maria Grazia Mazzocchi, Marina Montresor, Diana Sarno, Adriana Zingone, Iole Di Capua, Gayantonia Franzè, Francesca Margiotta, Vincenzo Saggiomo, Maurizio Ribera D´Alcala
Marine Ecology
2014

Microzooplankton Growth Rates Examined across a Temperature Gradient in the Barents Sea

Gayantonia Franzè, Peter J. Lavrentyev
PLOS ONE
2014

Microzooplankton distribution, dynamics, and trophic interactions relative to phytoplankton and quagga mussels in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Peter J. Lavrentyev, Henry A. Vanderploeg, Gayantonia Franzè, Dinorah H. Chacin, James R. Liebig, Thomas H. Johengen
Journal of Great Lakes research
2014

Microzooplankton distribution, dynamics, and trophic interactions relative to phytoplankton and quagga mussels in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Lavrentyev P.J., H.A. Vanderploeg, G. Franzè, D.H. Chacin, J.R. Liebig, T.H. Johengen
Journal of Great Lakes Reserach 40 p. 95-105
2014

Microzooplankton growth rates examined across a temperature gradient in the Barents Sea

Franzè G. and P.J. Lavrentyev,
PloSOne 9 (1) p. e86429
2014

The green–blue swing: plasticity of plankton food-webs in response to coastal oceanographic dynamics

D’Alelio D., M.G. Mazzocchi, M. Montreso, D. Sarno, A. Zingone, I. Di Capua, G. Franzè, M. Margiotta, V. Saggiomo, M. Ribera d´Alcalà
Marine Ecology 36(4) p. 1155-1170
2013

Experimental evidence for internal predation in microzooplankton communities

Gayantonia Franzè, Monica Modigh
Marine Biology
2013

Experimental evidence for internal predation in microzooplankton communities

Franzè G. and M. Modigh
Marine Biology 160 (12) p. 3103-3112
2009

Changes in phytoplankton and microzooplankton populations during grazing experiments at a Mediterranean coastal site

Monica Modigh, Gayantonia Franzè
Journal of Plankton Research
2009

Changes in phytoplankton and microzooplankton populations during grazing experiments at a Mediterranean coastal site

Modigh M. and G. Franzè
Journal of Plankton Reserach 31 (8) p. 853-864

Scientific lectures

2024

Oceans to Icy Moons: Utilizing Advanced Imaging Flow Cytometry for Life and Chemical Biosignature Detection.

Jana A, S.R. Periasamey, G. Franzè, et al.
European Astrobiology Network Association 2024 Conference
2024

Ecosystem response to darkening of the coastal zone – food web implications.

G. Franzè, E. Serino, E. Errico, O. Mangoni.
ICES Annual Science Conference 2024
2020

Plankton population dynamics and food web structure on the Northeast US Shelf (NES-LTER): early indication of seasonal shifts in production regimes

Marrec P., McNair H., Morison F., Franzè G., Strock J. and Susanne Menden-Deuer
Ocean SCience Meeting, San Diego USA
2020

Diverse herbivorous protists show common response in growth-temperature dependency

Franzè G. and Menden-Deuer S
Ocean Science Meeting, San Diego
2019

Winners and losers in a changing tide: temperature- nutrient impact on phytoplankton community dynamics.

Anderson, S., J. Kling, C. Kremer, G. Franzè, D. Hutchins, E. Litchman, S. Menden-Deuer, T. Rynearson
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2019

Effects of turbulence on microzooplankton growth and grazing.

A. Ward, G. Franzè, A. Barton, S. Menden-Deuer
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2019

The influence of mixed-layer light variability on plankton population dynamics.

F. Morison, G. Franzè, E. Harvey, S Menden-Deuer
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2018

Comparison of the functional response of Acartia tonsa to PUA-producing and non-producing strains of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi.

Stoecker D.K., J.J. Pierson, G.W. Smalley, G. Franzè, P.J. Lavrentyev.
Ocean Science Meeting-AGU, Portland, Oregon, USA
2018

Direct and indirect effects of temperature and nutrients on plankton community dynamics.

Franzè G., S. Anderson, C. Kremer, J. Kling, P. Wilburn, D.A. Hutchins, E. Litchman, T. Rynearson, S. Menden-Deuer.
Ocean Science Meeting-AGU, Portland, Oregon, USA
2017

When the going get’s tough: evaluating herbivore behavior and population dynamics under sub-optimal conditions.

Menden-Deuer S., S.R. Anderson, G. Franzè, M.K. Kane, N.A. D’souza, F. Morison, A. Oikonomou.
ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI.
2016

Taxa-specific effects of polyunsaturated aldehydes in micro- and meso-zooplankton alter food web dynamics.

Pierson J.J., P.J. Lavrentyev, D.K. Stoecker, G. Franzè, G. Smalley.
ICES/PICES 6th zooplankton production symposium, Bergen, Norway.
2012

Carbon flux through the microbial food web in the Barents Sea and the Beaufort Gyre.

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franze et al.
ICES, Bergen, Norway.
2012

Microzooplankton growth and herbivory impact in the Barents Sea

Franze G. and P.J. Lavrentyev.
ICES, Bergen, Norway.
2007

Interazioni trofiche e cannibalismo nel microzooplankton

Franzè Gayantonia
3° Incontro Annuale Dottorandi in Ecologia degli Ecosistemi Acquatici SItE-AIOL. Lecce, Italy.
2006

Impatto del microzooplancton sulla composizione del fitoplancton nel Golfo di Napoli

Franzè G., I. Santarpia, O. Mangoni, M. Modigh.
XVII Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia. Napoli, Italy

Poster

2024

From Oceans to Icy Moons: Utilizing Advanced Imaging Flow Cytometry for Life and Chemical Biosignature Detection.

Jana A, S.R. Periasamey, G. Franzè, et al.
European Astrobiology Network Association 2024 Conference,
2019

Thermal diversity in a coastal marine synechococcus community selected under low- and high-temperatures.

J. Kling, D. Hutchins T. Rynearson E. Litchman C. Kremer P. Wilburn G. Franzè S. Anderson F. Fu M. Phan
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2017

Temperature dependence of the heterotrophic protists Oxyrrhis marina.

Franzè G. and S. Menden-Deuer.
RI NSF EPSCoR 2017 Annual Research Symposium, Providence, RI
2016

Microzooplankton abundance, composition and trophic interactions with phytoplankton and pelagic copepods in the ice- covered and open waters of the Eastern Fram Strait.

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franzè, C. Svensen, F.B. Moore
Ocean Science Meeting-AGU, New Orleans, Louisiana USA.
2016

he diatom-produced polyunsaturated aldehydes can induce trophic cascades in the planktonic food web in productive coastal waters.

Franzè G., J.J. Pierson, D.K. Stoecker, P.J. Lavrentyev. T
Ocean Science Meeting-AGU, New Orleans, Louisiana USA.
2015

Specie-Specific effect of diatom- produced cytotoxic secondary metabolites on microzooplankton growth rates.

Franzè G., P.J. Lavrentyev, J.J. Pierson, D.K. Stoecker.
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, Granada, Spain.
2013

Microzooplankton role in the warming Arctic: a cross- system comparison

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franzè et al.
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana USA.
2013

Microzooplankton distribution and trophic interactions with bacteria, phytoplankton, and planktonic copepods in the Beaufort Gyre.

Franze G., P.J. Lavrentyev, R. Conley, J. Putland, K. Young, W. Williams, J. Nelson.
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana USA.
2012

Towards estimating the pan-arctic diversity of eukaryotic microbial plankton.

Frank E., R.J. Duff, P.J. Lavrentyev, G. Franze, F.B. Moore, E.B. Sherr, B.F. Sherr
Ocean Sciences Meeting-AGU, Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
2012

Carbon flux through the microbial food web in the Barents Sea.

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franze et al..
Ocean Sciences Meeting-AGU, Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
2012

Microzooplankton growth and herbivory patterns across a temperature gradient in the Barents.

Franze G. and P.J. Lavrentyev.
Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
2011

Microzooplankton trophic interaction with phytoplankton and planktonic copepods in the ice-covered and open waters of the Barents Sea.

Lavrentyev P.J., G. Franze, K. Solovyev.
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2009

Predation within the microzooplankton: experimental evidence in the Gulf of Naples, Italy

Franze G. and M. Modigh.
ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting, Nice, France.
2009

Shifts and persistence in tintinnid assemblages in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Modigh M. and G. Franze
19th to 21 century records Open Science Conference-Diversitas, Cape Town, South Africa.

Reports and dissertations

2024

North Sea Ecosystem - Report_2023002006

Gayantonia Franzè, Tone Falkenhaug, Jon Albretsen, Sarah Joanne Lerch, Hannes Höffle, Hilde Elise Heldal, Elizaveta Ershova, Kjell Gundersen
Toktrapport
2023

North Sea Ecosystem Cruise Report_JH2022206

Gayantonia Franzè, Tone Falkenhaug, Jon Albretsen, Elizaveta Ershova, Kjell Gundersen, Hilde Elise Heldal, Sarah Lerch
2023

Ecosystem response to darkening of the coastal zone - food web implications - Pilot Study

Gayantonia Franzè, Lars Johan Naustvoll, Tone Falkenhaug
2022

Working Group on Integrated Assessments of the North Sea (WGINOSE)

Andrea Belgrano, Tone Falkenhaug, Gayantonia Franze, Eirini Glyki, Katell Hamon, Ida-Maja Hassellö, Ruud Jongbloed, Adrian Judd, Andrew Kenny, Christopher Lynam, Inigo Martinez, Claire Mason, Arina Motova, Koen Parmentier, Gerjan Piet, Morten Skogen, Hiroko Solvang, Jesper Stage, Jacqueline Tamis, Jan Vanaverbeke, Henning Wehde
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea 4 (86)
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