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Marine Biogeochemistry postgraduate Johan Viljoen, sampling for phytoplankton pigments as part of the TracEx team during the 2017 Winter Cruise to the Indian Southern Ocean.


Johan is a finishing master student on his way to starting a PhD at Stellenbosch University as a marine biogeochemistry research candidate within the Centre for Trace Metal and Experimental Biogeochemistry (TracEx)​, Department of Earth Sciences. He is currently working within the highly interdisciplinary field of Marine Biogeochemistry on the Determination of Phytoplankton Distribution and Adaption within the Southern Ocean​ with links to phytoplankton pigments and trace metal distribution. 

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He uses concentrations of various phytoplankton pigments to determine what phytoplankton is present where and their adaption to certain environments. Within the TracEx team the research is based on ocean observations, done on the R/V SA Agulhas II, and experiments with a focus on trace metals, e​ssential nutrients for phytoplankton, and their links to phytoplankton distributions. Many of the research projects conducted within the TracEx group forms part of the South African National Antarctic Program (SANAP).

Find more information on:

Twitter @JohanSOV

Research Gate (gives access to article, poster and presentation): https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Johan_Viljoen2


 


​Southern Ocean research website: https://southernoceanfe.wordpress.com/

APECS-SA: https://apecssa.wordpress.com/

SANAP: https://www.sanap.ac.za/

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Yes it can be VERY cold...                                ... and a lot of fun 


Blog post about his experience of a day on Antarctica during an annual summer relief voyage: https://weknowwater.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/a-day-on-the-antarctic-shelf/

He also serves as a national committee member for the South African branch of the Association for Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS). ​​

Email: jj.viljoen.1991@gmail.com