How do you calculate abundance of plankton?

Phytoplankton abundance can be measured and expressed as cell/colony numbers (individu- um/l) and/or biomass (mg/l). Biomass was gererally measured indirectly, calculated from the density and specific cell volume of particular taxa.

What are the 4 types of plankton?

Phytoplankton are the single-celled organisms that play an important role in the aquatic food web, and different types include green algae, cyanobacteria, coccolithophores and dinoflagellates.

What are the 3 types of plankton and how are they different?

There are two main types of plankton: phytoplankton, which are plants, and zooplankton, which are animals. Zooplankton and other small marine creatures eat phytoplankton and then become food for fish, crustaceans, and other larger species.

What are the 2 types of plankton?

Scientists classify plankton in several ways, including by size, type, and how long they spend drifting. But the most basic categories divide plankton into two groups: phytoplankton (plants) and zooplankton (animals).

How do you calculate cell density in phytoplankton?

cells/mL = cell count X total area of chamber bottom / Length of strip of the counting chamber X Width of strip of the counting chamber X Volume of the counting chamber X No. of strips counted. Alternatively, you can use a haemocytometer (as suggested above) or a flow-cytometer or a fluorimeter for the purpose.

What is the density of plankton?

The phytoplankton density varied from 47 to 264 ind./cm3; chlorophyll-a contents varied between 1.52 and 1.83 mg/m3. Measured concentrations of heavy metals and nutrients showed difference related to sampling points.

What are the 2 main types of phytoplankton?

The two main classes of phytoplankton are dinoflagellates and diatoms. Dinoflagellates use a whip-like tail, or flagella, to move through the water and their bodies are covered with complex shells.

What classification is plankton?

How do you identify plankton?

Phytoplankton cells are commonly identified with a microscope. A trained technician can identify many different kinds of diatoms and dinoflagelates in a plankton sample. However, the emerging science of pigment analysis can be faster, cheaper, and less labor-intensive.