Phytoplankton Identification Image Gallery

High-speed imaging with FlowCam is a powerful way to quickly count, measure, and classify phytoplankton. This gallery provides example FlowCam images to assist users with the taxonomic identification of common algal groups found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine systems.

Featured are taxa of special interest to managers, regulatory agencies, and researchers like harmful algae bloom (HAB) producers. These include potentially toxigenic (PTOX) taxa, cyanobacteria, problematic taste and odor producers (T&O), and shellfish HABs. Using key morphological features visible in FlowCam images, the guide may be used to assist with the taxonomic identification of phytoplankton* for groups working with FlowCam image data.

To learn more about how FlowCam can support your phytoplankton research and monitoring, download our Ebook, "The Ultimate Guide to Flow Imaging Microscopy for Aquatic Life Sciences".

 

Filter Results

Actinastrum Hantzschii
Freshwater
Actinastrum hantzschii
  • T&O producer
Akashiwo sanguinea
Marine Estuarine
Akashiwo sanguinea
  • Ecosystem disrupter
Aphanizomenon flos aqua
Freshwater
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Ecosystem disrupter
  • Filter clogger
  • Water softening
Aphanizomenon gracile
Freshwater
Aphanizomenon gracile
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Ecosystem disrupter
  • Filter clogger
  • Water softening
Asterionella sp.
Marine Estuarine Freshwater
Asterionella sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Ecosystem disrupter
  • Coagulation treatment interference
Aulocosiera sp.
Marine Estuarine Freshwater
Aulacoseira sp.
  • Filter clogger
Ceratium sp.
Estuarine Freshwater
Ceratium sp.
  • T&O producer
Chaetoceros sp.
Marine Estuarine
Chaetoceros sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Ecosystem disrupter
Chlamydomonas sp.
Freshwater
Chlamydomonas sp.
  • T&O producer
Coelastrum sp.
Freshwater
Coelastrum sp.
  • T&O producer
Cruciegenia sp.
Freshwater
Cruciegenia sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi
Freshwater
Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi
  • Potentially toxigenic
Desmodesmus dimorphus
Freshwater
Desmodesmus dimorphus
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Dinobryan sp.
Freshwater
Dinobryon sp.
  • T&O producer
Dinophysis sp.
Marine Estuarine
Dinophysis sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
Ditylum brightwellii
Marine Estuarine
Ditylum brightwellii
  • Potentially toxigenic
Dolichospermum sp.
Freshwater
Dolichospermum sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Coagulation treatment interference
Dolichospermum sp.
Freshwater
Dolichospermum sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • Potential T&O Producer
  • Filter Clogger
  • Coagulation Treatment Interference
Dolichospermum sp.
Freshwater
Dolichospermum sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Coagulation treatment interference
Eudorina sp.
Freshwater
Eudorina sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Euglena sp.
Freshwater
Euglena sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Slime producing
  • Coagulation treatment interference
Fragilaria sp.
Freshwater
Fragilaria sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Geitlerinema sp.
Freshwater
Geitlerinema sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
Gonium sp.
Freshwater
Gonium sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Gyrodinium sp.
Marine Estuarine
Gyrodinium sp.
Kirchniella sp.
Freshwater
Kirchneriella sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Mallamonas sp.
Freshwater
Mallomonas sp.
  • T&O producer
Microcystis sp.
Freshwater
Microcystis sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Hinders settling
Oscillatoria sp.
Freshwater
Oscillatoria sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Slime producing
Pediastrum simplex
Freshwater
Pediastrum simplex
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Planktolyngbya sp.
Freshwater
Planktolyngbya sp.
Prorocentrum cordatum
Marine Estuarine
Prorocentrum cordatum
Prorocentrum micans
Marine Estuarine
Prorocentrum micans
Pseudanabaena limetica
Freshwater
Pseudanabaena limnetica
  • Potentially toxigenic
Pseudonitzschia sp.
Marine Estuarine
Pseudonitzschia sp.
  • Potentially toxigenic
Raphidiopsis raciborskii
Freshwater
Raphidiopsis raciborskii (coiled)
  • Potentially toxigenic
Raphidiopsis raciborskii
Freshwater
Raphidiopsis raciborskii (straight)
  • Potentially toxigenic
Scenedesmus sp.
Freshwater
Scenedesmus sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Scrippsiella
Marine Estuarine
Scrippsiella trochoidea
Snowella litoralis
Freshwater
Snowella litoralis
  • Potentially toxigenic
Staurastrum sp.
Freshwater
Staurastrum sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Stephanodiscus sp.
Freshwater
Stephanodiscus sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
Synedra sp.
Marine Estuarine Freshwater
Synedra sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Ecosystem disrupter
  • Coagulation treatment interference
  • Water softening
Synura sp.
Freshwater
Synura sp.
  • T&O producer
Tabellaria sp.
Marine Estuarine Freshwater
Tabellaria sp.
  • T&O producer
  • Filter clogger
  • Indicator of high acidity
Tripos lineatus
Marine Estuarine
Tripos lineatus
Tripos muelleri
Marine Estuarine
Tripos muelleri
Vorticella sp.
Freshwater
Vorticella sp.
  • Host to Guinea worm
  • Larvicidal effect on mosquito larvae
Woronichinia naegeliana
Freshwater
Woronichinia naegeliana
  • Potentially toxigenic
  • Ecosystem disrupter
  • Filter clogger

Sorry!

No items currently match your filtering criteria.

*Note that morphology and community composition may vary based on your location, environmental conditions, and instrument settings. This guide is designed to be a general resource and should not be used exclusively for making public health decisions. Images are not to scale. FlowCam is not designed for speciation, though it may be possible depending on your area and the genera you are working with.

References: Berk, S. G., J. H. Gunderson (1993), Chorus, I., M. Welker (2021); Palmer, C. M. (1962); Palmer, C. M. (1980); Shumway, S. E.; J. M. Burkholder, S. L. Morton (2018); Steidinger, K. A., M. E. M. del Castillo (2018).