This lab houses three environmental chambers for algal cultures and controlled experiments, equipment for isolation, identification and culturing including an autoclave, transfer hood, dissecting and inverted microscope equipped with epifluorescence and image analysis. A FacsCalibur flow cytometer is used for quantification of picoplankton. Nutrient analyses for most species of nitrogen, phosphorus and silica can be analyzed spectrophotometrically either manually or using a SEAL AQ400 Discrete Analyzer.
Sample Analysis
A FluoroProbe spectral fluorometer can be used in bench top mode or profiling mode to measure total chlorophyll and pigment composition and Walz PhytoPAM and Water PAM are used to assess photosynthetic capacity of algal cultures and discrete water samples. A FOSS NIRS 5000 can be used to non-destructively determine carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus on solid samples or filters. A Chelsea Instruments Fast Track II Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRF) can be set up in the lab to measure variable fluorescence and absorption cross section of algal cultures and discrete samples and can be used in profiling mode in the field as well.
Sensors and Sampling Gear
Two Satlantic Nitrate Sensors and a Satlantic hyperspectral radiometer completes the profiling instruments in the Biological Limnology Laboratory. In addition, the lab has a Walz Diving PAM, 3 Turner Designs Fluorometers (10AU, TD 700, and an AquaFluor) and a range of biological limnology sampling gear.
Contact Sandy Brovold regarding analytical services.