CO2-concentrating mechanisms in aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms

The articles in this issue of the Canadian Journal of Botany arose from presentations given at The Fifth International Symposium on Inorganic Carbon Utilization by Aquatic Photosynthetic Organisms held from 24 to 28 August 2004 at Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada. They represent the current state of our understanding of CO2-concentrating mechanisms in these organisms and highlight recent molecular, physiological, and ecological advances made in this field of study. The influence of CO2-concentrating mechanisms on global carbon sequestration, species diversity, and population dynamics are also explored.Key words: algae, CO2-concentrating mechanisms, cyanobacteria, photosynthesis.