Using dual laser flow cytometry for monitoring phytoplankton composition and integrity

Book · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:153321

Schaefer, H; Beisker, W ^[1]; Steinberg, C ^[2]

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1. GSF-Forschungszentrum fuer Umwelt and Gesundheit GmbH, Neuherberg (Germany). Arbeitsgruppe Durchflusszytometrie
2. Institut fuer Gewaesseroekologie und Binnenfischerei, Berlin (Germany)

Dual laser flow cytometry can be used for determining phytoplankton populations in lakes and lowland rivers and streams. Apart from answering basic limnological questions such as the time course of algal blooms or the annual succession of phytoplankton composition further investigations can be made for estimating the integrity of phytoplankton community using biomass distribution spectra. Thus anthropogenic influence such as eutrophication, acidification or effects of xenobiotica can be monitored. Dual laser flow cytometry with excitation wavelengths of 458 and 528 nm was used to measure photosynthesis pigment fluorescence (chlorophyll a (CHLa), Em>665 nm) and phycoerythrin (PE, Em 575 nm) and cell density of phytoplankton organisms in water samples. CHLa is excited directly by 458 nm and by energy transfer from carotenoids (Ex 528 nm). The ratio of the two fluorescence parameters (CFR) allows to identify pigment groups in the phytoplankton population (chlorophytes and euglenophytes from chrysophytes, diatoms and dinophytes). PE-containing cyanophytes and cryptophytes can be detected by their PE fluorescence (Ex 528 nm). As a result of preliminary studies for preparing biomass spectra of phytoplankton communities measurements of protein content by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC, ex 488 nm, Em 530 nm) are also shown.

• OSTI ID: 153321
• Report Number(s): CONF-9506232--; ISBN 0-8194-1862-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CELL FLOW SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MONITORING
PHYTOPLANKTON
POLLUTANTS
WATER POLLUTION