CICEET Progress Report for 08/15/00 through 02/15/01

Project Title:

Application of a continuous imaging flow cytometer for monitoring estuarine microplankton.

Principal Investigators:

Michael Sieracki
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, W. Boothbay Harbor, ME

Christian Sieracki
Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc., East Boothbay, ME

Work Accomplishments

Goals for the period of 2/1/00 to 7/31/00

For this period, our goals were:

Continue to maintain the Wells FlowCAM and use the internet link for realtime data distribution. Monthly

interpretations of the data were to be provided provided. The website was to be upgraded to facilitate these goals.

Concerns or Difficulties

Excessive solar heating of the instrument, leading to erroneous water

temperature readings on warm sunny days. This was corrected by painting the instrument white and

installing a solar powered cooling fan.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in Scheduled Project Period

The application of a continuous imaging flow cytometer for monitoring estuarine microplankton is going very well (see preliminary data). We are anticipating complete success in meeting our objectives.

Preliminary Data

In early January, the floats were re-installed and data access to the remote dock deployed FlowCAM was completed with internet access via a web server, an FTP server with anonymous login at 169.244.143.206 port 20 and the installation of a CD ROM writer and subsequent archiving of all Wells FlowCAM data to present (5 Gbytes).

Some of this archived data has been compiled and much of the data from January and February has been analyzed as well.

The Wells harbor area was dredged from mid-September until late November. During that period and until Jaunuary, the instrument was moved from the dock to the Wells NERR lab to allow removal of the dock floats. Daily water samples were taken at the dock area to continue the monitoring via FlowCAM.

Figure 1 shows data from the middle of the dredging. A large fall Prorocentrum micans bloom is underway in the vicinity of the harbor, accompanied by the presence of large marine ciliates.

The data in Figure 2 shows results from a one day period in February. Each dot on the graph represents a cell which was measured as it was detected by the FlowCAM.

Data from January and February shows a strong presence of Dictyocha speculum, a marine silicaflagellate in the 20 micrometer size range and large marine diatoms and ciliates (Laboea) in the 70 to 80 micrometer size range. This data differs greatly from the late spring and summer results shown in the previous report.

As of September 2000, the instrument has been online on the internet at the URL 169.244.143.206 with a running collage of the latest cells present available at this website.

Goals and Activities for the Next Report Period

Goals for the Next Period

Over the next six months, we shall continue to maintain the Wells FlowCAM and use the internet link for realtime data distribution. Monthly interpretations of the data will be provided. The website will be upgraded to facilitate these goals.

One of the next steps will be to create a format for regular presentation and interpretation of the results. The ultimate goal will be to provide regular data synthesis and interpretation reports, on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. We will begin this reporting this spring. In addition, the collected data will be analyzed and interpreted relative to the dredging event in Wells Harbor. We are looking forward to a productive second year of measurements with the instrument.

Work Plan to Accomplish Tasks.

To accomplish maintenance of the FlowCAM, we shall visit the site up to twice a month and shall provide phone assistance to the Wells NERR personnel.

Concerns or Difficulties

In May, the Wells NERR laboratory will be moved to a new building, requiring rewiring of the internet and relocation of the wireless internet antenna. This may result in an internet outage regarding access to the FlowCAM. Additionally, Wells Harbor is replacing its floats in the spring, meaning that we shall need to remove and install the cell counting part of the instrument. This will result in a temporary stoppage of the instrument.