The World of Phytoplankton

This past month of May, I completed the Master Naturalist program. After being exposed to many topics to practice newfound skills, I decided to pursue more education in the phytoplankton world. This interest was sparked by a class given by Dave Eslinger, whom I am sure most of you know, and who has a long and impressive resume. His class allowed us to look microscopically at phytoplankton and other creatures plucked from the ponds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center.

With the help of Jen Maucher, program coordinator for the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network for NOAA, I watched tutorials on how to collect specimens and then to identify possible toxin producers. Further, Jen and I met to discuss any remaining questions or concerns. With plenty of resources and support systems in place, I began to test the water off the dock at the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery. The staff at the hatchery had generously offered the use of one of their microscopes. It has a nice sized screen that displays phytoplankton, broken pollen grains, microplastics and other things in the water very nicely and from which I can snap decent pictures.

If any harmful algal blooms are identified or suspected, I report this to Jen Maucher and include other factors relative to the specimen collection, like air and water temperature, salinity and so forth. I have been practicing this skill for nearly 4 months now and look forward to becoming more adept.

I read a book by Jerry Seinfeld recently titled, “Is This Anything?” I can apply that to my beginner level phytoplankton monitoring. With every picture I send in, I wonder: Is This Anything? The problem is, I am suspicious that many things are harmful algal blooms! Thankfully, someone on the other end of my photo sets me straight. Sometimes I get it right!