Applications of flow cytometry to phytoplankton research

Summary

Flow cytometers are capable of measuring multiple optically expressed features of phytoplankton at the level of the individual cell. In conjunction with viability and vitality stains, such as FDA, flow cytometry can be used to determine the nutrient status of phytoplankton. It can be used in ecotoxicology studies to determine the impact of heavy metals, salinity and acid mine drainage contamination. The technique is able to discriminate different taxa within a sample, which enables the evaluation of nutrient status of different populations within the phytoplankton assemblage. Flow cytometry has also been used to determine the variability of metabolic activity and relative gas vesicle volume within a population of Microcystis aeruginosa, which may explain some of the heterogeneity in buoyancy observed in field populations.