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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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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