Freshwater Lake and Reservoir Phytoplankton Identification, Enumeration, and Use as Bioindicators
Premise: Like in the medical practice, the makeup of one's blood can tell a lot about the health of the individual, so does the makeup of a water body's phytoplankton community to the quality of water and environmental health of the 'living' aquatic system. Phytoplankton are the microscopic free-floating photosynthetic plants and bacteria that co-exist in the aquatic environment. They are the basis of the aquatic food chain and along with their excess photosynthate drive both the autotrophic and heterotrophic energy flow in lakes and reservoirs. Basic requirements for phytoplankton growth and survival include water (of course), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), inorganic carbon, and sunlight, among other things. Different phytoplankton species are adapted to different physical and chemical environments and their presence or absence and abundance within the given physical and chemical environment allows one to diagnose the health of the system and determine the quality of the water within. Lake Diagnostics, LLC takes a different approach in assessing water-quality conditions and environmental health of a freshwater lake or reservoir, by first examining the phytoplankton present, then the abundance and community structure, all of which can be used to diagnose water-quality condition and environmental health of the system, supported by the physical and chemical conditions associated with the water that the phytoplankton sample was collected. Lake Diagnostics, LLC is dedicated to assisting the academic, lake and reservoir management communities in the identification and enumeration of freshwater phytoplankton samples and use as bioindicators of water-quality condition. Visit the sponsors linked to the left before you leave. | Qualifications: Founded in 2010, Lake Diagnostics, LLC was formed to assist academic, lake and reservoir management communities in the identification and enumeration of freshwater phytoplankton samples and use as bioindicators of water-quality condition. All taxonomic identifications and counts are performed (or supervised) by a Ph.D. Biologist (Limnology) with over 25 years of experience in lake and reservoir limnology, water-quality assessment, and phytoplankton ecology, identification, and enumeration. Lake Diagnostics, LLC's laboratory is equipped with both inverted and upright microscopes and set up to analyze phytoplankton using the Utermohl settling and HPMA permanent mount techniques. Microscopes are equipped with digital cameras to capture snapshots of individual organisms and video scans. |