CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/01/09 Through 8/31/09
Project Title: Automated Imaging and Classification System for Harmful Algal Bloom Detection
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Robert J. Olson,
Additional Investigator(s): Dr. Heidi Sosik, Dr. Lisa Campbell
Project Start Date: 9/01/06
A. Progress on objectives during this reporting period:
Our objectives for this reporting period were to continue the deployment of the Imaging FlowCytobot at the U. Texas-Marine Sciences Institute (UTMSI) at Port Aransas (at the entry to the Mission-Aransas NERR site), and to finalize the automated classifier for the local phytoplankton populations. The project has now ended, and the final report (to be submitted by Dec. 1) will have more complete information.
The data has been of high quality for most of the current deployment, and revealed significant numbers of Karenia cells for the first time during the project. The cells we observed, in August, appeared to be Karenia mikimotoi. Dr. Campbell initiated a manual sampling program to look at these more closely. Cell concentrations did not reach bloom proportions.
Dr. Campbell has manually examined samples at intervals over the deployment to compile a training set of images for the common phytoplankton groups observed, and with Dr. Sosik has implemented automated classification of the image set as a whole, to obtain quantitative information about the different groups.
Manual classification of images was completed for up to 34 categories (>300 for each species/category) from field data acquired since August 2007.
Completed manual classification of all images in selected files over the time series was performed to use in testing the automated classifer.
B. Dissemination activities during this reporting period:Publications during this reporting period:
Campbell, L., R. J. Olson, H.M. Sosik, A. Abraham, D. Henrichs, E. Buskey, and C. Hyatt. First harmful Dinophysis (Dinophyceae, Dinophysiales) bloom in the US is revealed by automated imaging flow cytometry. J. Phycology, in press.
Presentations during this reporting period:
- Gordon Research Conference on Mycotoxins & Phycotoxins. “Early warning of the first Dinophysis bloom in the US by imaging flow cytometry,” July 2009.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Update on Karenia brevis research,” September 2009.
WHOI's Intellectual Property Office has started discussions with BD Biosystems, Inc. (new owners of Cytopeia, Inc., with whom we are partners in a NOPP-funded project) about commercializing Imaging FlowCytobot.
C. The results and data gathered during this reporting period have not changed the project objectives of the original proposal.
D. Collaboration with Stakeholders during this period:
We have been working with Cytopeia, Inc. (now a division of BD Biosystems) to commercialize the Imaging FlowCytobot, in a project funded by NOPP.
E. The project is now completed; the Final Report will be submitted by 1 December.