Culture Collection
The FWRI HAB culture collection contains algal species grown and maintained in the HAB laboratory. These single-species cultures are used for research by FWRI and other scientists in the United States and around the world.
Research on HAB species often requires the use of phytoplankton cultures grown in the laboratory to study a single species. Most of the phytoplankton species in the HAB culture collection originate from water samples collected in Florida. The water samples are examined under a light microscope, and when a desired species is identified, single cells are removed and placed into individual containers. The cells are fed a mixture of nutrients, and after numerous cell divisions, a single-species culture is established. The cultures are transferred to large storage containers called carboys, where they are maintained and made available for use by FWRI researchers and other scientists in the United States and around the world. The HAB culture collection currently contains more than 100 cultures of various dinoflagellate and diatom species, many of which are toxic. More than 30 of these cultures are of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism.
