Methods
Habitats
Bibliography
Glossary
Syllabus
Students

PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Pseudo-nitzschia Plankton Tows

Plankton tows were collected in the intertidal on row boats, off of docks, and near the shoreline. More specifically, samples were taken off of Agassiz Beach of Hopkins Marine Station (seen above) in Monterey, California on a row boat as well as off the shore. Samples were also collected off the Marina dock in Monterey, CA. A plankton net was used, with a netted collection cup attached at the end of the net. The net was dragged through the water (at depths near the surface - the euphotic zone where phytoplankton can thrive due to access to sunlight). See Study & Collection for more information!

Light Microscopy

Light microscopy allowed me to visualize diatoms as a general entity, and identification of diatoms as centric or pennate was possible. Identification of Pseudo-nitzschia , however, was impossible due to the minute detail and skill necessary. Samples taken off of the shoreline of Agassiz Beach did not yield many diatoms, as the sampling did not include large amounts of phytoplankton (the net is harder to drag substantial distances when working from the shore). Samples taken off of the boat at Agassiz Beach, however, did yield numerous diatoms, most of which were centric (see below). The sample taken at the Marina showed large amounts of pennate diatoms (see below).

Samples: Agassiz Beach, Row Boat (400x)

Samples: Marina, Dock (1000x)

  Back to the Field Work page..

copyright Jennifer Shin 1999.