Aquatic
Automate Your Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Research with FlowCam
Experience the versatility and flexibility of a single instrument capable of characterizing microorganisms 2 µm to 1 mm in size.
FlowCam provides a rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use alternative to manual microscopy for monitoring phytoplankton biovolume and community composition.
Time series studies with large image datasets allow for better understanding of the subtle changes in local plankton environments.
Use FlowCam to:
- Rapidly count and capture high-resolution images of thousands of microplankton per minute
- Distinguish organisms by morphology using semi-automated image recognition techniques
- Calculate phyto- and zooplankton biovolume, concentration, and size distribution
- Use fluorescence to help differentiate Cyanobacteria from other algae and detritus
"[FlowCam is] versatile for sizing a wide range of particles, including micro-animals like zooplankton, phytoplankton and unicellular organisms. A complement of microscopy lenses allow for counting different size ranges of particles."
FlowCam Collage of phytoplankton and zooplankton from the Gulf of Maine
Collecting a water sample off the coast of Vancouver for FlowCam analysis
FlowCam freshwater collage of plankton collected in the Yangtze River, China
Training FlowCam users on FlowCam Cyano
Study Plankton Communities and their Impact on Global Health
Plankton are especially sensitive to changes in their environment and respond quickly to stress conditions.
Routine sampling with FlowCam provides scientists with a rapid and repeatable means to measure and characterize plankton communities to advance your understanding of harmful algal bloom dynamics, trophic relationships, particle transport, and other environmental phenomena.
Use the flexibility of FlowCam to:
- Classify and enumerate phytoplankton and microzooplankton
- Monitor growth of Cyanobacteria and nuisance algae
- Conduct microzooplankton grazing experiments
- Evaluate particle transport in the water column
Additional Resources
Guides
- Ultimate Guide to Flow Imaging Microscopy for Aquatic Life Sciences
- Phytoplankton and Zooplankton FlowCam Image Galleries
Case Studies
Published Research
Methodologies
Articles
VideosBlog Posts
- Zooplankton Imaging Aboard Research Vessels: A FlowCam Visit to Bigelow Laboratories
- Why is FlowCam's Area-Based Diameter More Accurate than Manual Microscopy When Measuring the Biovolume of Copepods?
- Storm in a Bottle: FlowCam Enables Investigation of Meteorological Effects on Phytoplankton Communities
- Effects of Monsoon Flooding on Microplankton Communities in Kochi Backwaters of Western India
- FlowCam Macro Helps Researchers Understand Daily Migration Patterns of Zooplankton and Carbon Cycling
Interested in learning more?
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