Phytoplankton analysis by (EurOPA) flow cytometry; current and future applications in environmental control

Today´s monitoring of phytoplankton abundance and composition in surface waters can be made more efficient by improving logistic and physical compatibility of analysis techniques. Particularly the microscopical identification and counting of phytoplankton is a time consuming, not quantitative technique, unsuited for early warning, automation and inter calibration purposes. Automated particle techniques such as flow cytometry may bridge the gap between the microscopic and macroscopic monitoring level. This strategy has been hampered so far by the limited discrimination power of the entities measured by standard flow cytometers, and the lack of available instruments built for shipboard operation. However, aquatic applications of flow are numerous already and `high definition´ instrumentation and data tools for phytoplankton analysis are being developed