Imaging
Researchers in the HAB imaging department use a variety of microscopic equipment to examine marine organisms at the cellular and subcellular levels. Microscopic analysis is used to identify and differentiate similar algal species.
Microscopic organisms can positively and negatively affect marine ecosystems. Phytoplankton are single-celled organisms that form the base of the food chain and can drive major fisheries. Phytoplankton can also positively affect ecosystems by recycling nutrients. Some plankton species, however, produce potent toxins that can kill marine fish. The HAB imaging laboratory at FWRI is equipped to prepare and examine most types of marine organisms at both the cellular and subcellular levels. This technology has proven to be invaluable in assessing the health of many different marine organisms including corals, dinoflagellates, fish, mollusks, parasites, and seagrasses and for groundbreaking work in identifying and distinguishing toxic algae, including the species responsible for Florida red tides. Recent imaging research has demonstrated that Florida red tides can be composed of up to at least five different Karenia species. The HAB imaging department is equipped with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and numerous light microscopes.
