Lesley completed a MSc (Melbourne University) and began her career as a biological oceanographer, but in the early 1990s expanded to marine bio-optics and ocean color validation in preparation for the launch of the first routine ocean color satellite sensor - SeaWiFS. She has established the leading bio-optical laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the leading bio-optical laboratories globally. Through participation in the NASA sponsored SeaHARRE experiments, Lesley's method for pigment analysis in marine samples was assessed as world class for over 10 years. Lesley works on numerous projects both nationally and internationally on a broad range of topics relating to phytoplankton ecology. She was awarded the Australian Marine Science Association's National Technical Award in 2016 and was inducted to the Tasmanian Honour Roll for Women for contributions to science in 2017. Lesley, a Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, has been a Research Group Leader of the Coasts program and a team leader of the Algal Ecology and Resources team.

Introduction: Traditional ecology into the future
Lesley A. Clementson, Ruth S. Eriksen and Anusuya Willis

Part 1: Phytoplankton taxonomy (brief review/introduction)
Ruth S. Eriksen
1.1 Cyanobacterial diversity and taxonomic uncertainty: polyphasic pathways to improved resolution
Glenn B. McGregor and Barbara C. Sendall
1.2. Uses of molecular taxonomy in identifying phytoplankton communities from the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey
Rowena Stern, Declan Schroeder, Andrea Highfield, Manal Al-Kandari, Luigi Vezzulli and Anthony Richardson
1.3. Impact of molecular approaches on dinoflagellate taxonomy and systematics -
Christopher J S.. Bolch
1.4. From molecules to ecosystem functioning: insight into new approaches to taxonomy to monitor harmful algae diversity in Chile.
Jorge I. Mardones, Bernd Krock, Lara Marcus, Catharina Alves-de-Souza, Satoshi Nagai, Kyoko Yarimizu, Alejandro Clément, Nicole Correa, Sebastian Silva, Javier Paredes, and Peter Von Dassow

Part 2: Monitoring and sensing systems (brief review/introduction) Lesley A. Clementson
2.1. Integrating Imaging and Molecular Approaches to Assess Phytoplankton Diversity
Lisa Campbell, Chetan Gaonkar and Darren W. Henrichs
2.2. Advances in in situ systems for phytoplankton research and monitoring
Matthew C. Smith, Levente Bodrossy and Pascal Craw
2.3. Applications of satellite remote sensing technology to analysis of phytoplankton community structure on large scales
Astrid Bracher, Robert J. W. Brewin, Áurea M. Ciotti, and Lesley A. Clementson, Takafumi Hirata, Tihomir Kostadinov, Colleen B. Mouw and Emanuele Organelli
2.4. Modelling phytoplankton processes in multiple functional types
Mark Baird, Stephanie Dutkiewicz, Anna Hickman, Mathieu Mongin, Monika Soja-Wozniak, Jennifer Skerratt, Karen Wild-Allen
2.5 Managing the societal uses of phytoplankton: Technology applications and needs
Andrew D.L. Steven

Part 3 Omics in aquatic ecology (brief review/introduction)
Anusuya Willis
3.1. Current applications and technological advances in quantitative real time PCR (qPCR): A versatile tool for the study of phytoplankton ecology
Kathryn J. Coyne, Yanfei Wang, Susanna A. Wood, Peter D. Countway and Sydney M. Greenlee
3.2. Phytoplankton diversity and ecology through the lens of high throughput sequencing technologies
Adriana Lopes dos Santos, Catherine Gerikas Ribeiro, Denise Ong, Laurence Garczarek, Xiao Li Shi, Scott D. Nodder, Daniel Vaulot and Andres Guitierrez Rodrigues
3.3 Comparative genomics for understanding intraspecific diversity
Anusuya Willis, Jason N. Woodhouse, Brett A. Neilan and Michele A. Burford
3.4. Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic approaches in phytoplankton: insights and advances
Bethany C. Kolody , Matthew J. Harke, Sharon E. Hook and Andrew E. Allen
3.5. From Genes to Ecosystems: using molecular information from diatoms to understand ecological processes
John A. Berges, Erica B. Young, Kimberlee Thamatrakon and Alison R. Taylor
3.6 Global marine phytoplankton revealed by the Tara Oceans expedition
Flora Vincent, Federico M. Ibarbalz and Chris Bowler