SoundHAB: FW: North Hood Canal bloom update

[Jack Rensel]

I've just looked at the net samples Jim Postel collected last Friday in 
Dabob Bay.  The bloom is the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi.  

It can be identified at 400 x - look for the small cells, ca. 6-8 um in 
diameter, that have black, oval to round shaped spots on them 
(coccoliths).  The coccoliths may or may not be present all over the cells 
and many are probably loose in the water.  The black spots may look like 
black rings/ovals with an empty center.  The cells themselves are usually 
pale yellow.  They are rather non-descript, but once you see them, they 
are relatively easy to identify.  Because they are so small, they will go 
through a 20 um mesh net, but enough are usually caught so you can ID 
them.  I let the sample sit overnight in the refrigerator so the cells 
sink and then pipette around the edge of the jar where most of the cells 
settle.  

Hope this helps.

Rita A. Horner                        373 Marine Science Bldg
School of Oceanography
Box 357940                            Phone:  206-543-8599
University of Washington              Fax:  206-543-0275
Seattle, WA  98195-7940               rita at ocean.washington.edu

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