| SERVICE | WHAT WE DO | WHY DO IT |
| WATERBODY MONITORING | Implementation of a water body monitoring program including the use of automated sensors to assess pertinent environmental variables, coupled with discrete water samples for biological and chemical measurements. | Monitoring your water body provides an assessment of existing problems, the presence of potentially toxic algal species and their toxins, and an early warning system to impending algal blooms. |
| PLANKTON COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE ASSESSMENT | Microscopy – plankton community composition and/or quantification: Identify the microorganisms present in your water, including the presence of harmful algal species. Assess the proportion of cell abundance of harmful algal species/groups present in the water. | Knowledge of the groups of organisms present and their proportion in the community can provide information on the health of the ecosystem. The identification of potential toxin producers can be a warning that there may be toxins in the water. |
| PLANKTON BIOMASS ASSESSMENT | Chlorophyll and other pigments: Sensor-based and/or measurements from discrete water samples of major algal pigments. | Algal pigments are a proxy of phytoplankton biomass. They can be used to assess the overall abundance of microscopic algae in the water, and the relative importance of potentially toxic cyanobacteria. |
| ELEMENTAL (NUTRIENT) ANALYSES | Quantification of the total concentrations of major algal nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as their chemical states (e.g. orthophosphate and nitrates) present in the water. | Nutrient and elemental status provide information on the trophic state of a water body, the potential for algal proliferation, and key elements that might be controlling community composition and toxin production. This information is also useful in forming a long-term management strategy for the water body. |
| ALGAL TOXIN CHARACTERIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION | Assessment of a variety of commonly occurring algal and cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater and marine environments e.g. microcystins/nodularin, anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins, and domoic acid. | Algal and cyanobacterial toxins include a number of neurotoxins, hepatotoxins, and dermal toxins that can sicken or kill by inhalation, direct skin contact, or ingestion. |
| EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES | We perform experimental studies tailored to understand the underlying causes of specific algal/cyanobacterial threats and do our best to alleviate them. | Such studies are instrumental in identifying the causes of harmful blooms and their causes, often leading to the design of effective mitigation/management strategies. |
| OTHER ANALYSES | If you don’t see an approach that interests you, please contact us to discuss it. We are versed in the vast majority of measurements and mitigative approaches, and can usually provide helpful tips and consultation. | |
