Rate My Professor Marina Potapova

Dr. Potapova is an expert in the ecology and taxonomy of algae, especially diatoms, which are crucial producers of organic matter and oxygen and serve as sensitive indicators for water quality and environmental reconstruction. Her research utilizes light and scanning electron microscopy, geometric morphometric analysis, molecular methods, and ecological modeling to investigate diatom communities, their responses to environmental changes, and biogeographical patterns. Current efforts develop high-throughput approaches like virtual microscopy and DNA metabarcoding for algal assemblages. She has led or co-led numerous grants from NSF, EPA, USGS, and state departments of environmental protection on diatom-based biomonitoring in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries. Key publications include "Distribution of benthic diatoms in US rivers in relation to conductivity and ionic composition" (Freshwater Biology, 2003), "Benthic diatoms in USA rivers: distributions along spatial and environmental gradients" (Journal of Biogeography, 2002), "Diatom metrics for monitoring eutrophication in rivers of the United States" (Ecological Indicators, 2007), and "A harmonized dataset of sediment diatoms from hundreds of lakes in the northeastern United States" (Scientific Data, 2022). She served as President of the International Society for Diatom Research and is an editorial board member for Diatoms of North America and Diatombase. As curator of America's largest diatom herbarium, her contributions enhance taxonomy, ecological assessment, and global diatom databases.