Fjords are dynamic systems where the microalgae community can change in a day. In April, the Microtoxmap team and Adam and Thibaut from the Prakash lab, went to the Comau fjord in Chile to explore the underwater microcosmos using the foldscope.
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Sampling with a phytoplankton net
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Sampling with a Niskin bottle
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The MicroToxMap team and Adam and Thibaut in Huinay’s filed station During the four days we stayed in the fjord, we could actually observe changes in the microalgae community. We detected some blooms of toxic microalgae (Prorocentrum cf. compressum) close to a shellfish farm and along a transect north towards the mouth of the fjord. However, after a day of heavy rain, these toxic blooms were fading. Salinity affects the growth of these microalgae and the heavy rain changed the salinity of the water in a few hours thus affecting the conditions for growing.
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Prorocentrum cf. compressum
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Ceratium tripos
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Dytilum brighwelli and Thalassiosira rotula
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Chaetoceros sp.
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