This phytoplankton identification website would not have been possible without the fabulous research, photo documentation, artistic vision, and coordination by the following people:

Kendra Hayashi, Jenny Q. Jacox, Jessica Glanz, Nilo Alvarado, Raphael Kudela, Barry H. Rosen, and Susan Coale - phytoplankton photographs and species information

Laura Beach - art direction, graphic design and layout

Anna McGaraghan - site updates and maintenance

Corlis Schneider - scientific illustration

Additional guidance and content has been provided by Raphael Kudela, Peter Miller, Rondi Robison, Mary Silver, and Katie Roberts.

This site was launched in 2007 as an extention of the Center for Integrated Marine Technologies (CIMT). Funding and support was provided by CIMT(NOAA), UCSC's Packard endowment, Cal-PReEMPT (California's Program for Regional Enhanced Monitoring for PhytoToxins), the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the Central and Northern California Ocean Observation System (CeNCOOS), and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Since June 2010 the site has been maintaned by the Kudela lab at the University of California Santa Cruz, and is affiliated with Cal-PReEMPT, CeNCOOS, and HABMAP (Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Alert Program).

References and Resources:

Identifying Marine Diatoms and Dinoflagellates
Edited by Carmelo R. Tomas with contributions by Grethe R. Hasle, Erik E. Syvertsen, Karen A. Steidinger, and Karl Tangen.

A Guide to Marine Coastal Plankton and Marine Invertebrate Larvae, Second Edition
By Deboyd L. Smith and Kevin B. Johnson

Marine Plankton Diatoms of West Coast of North America
By Ester E. Cupp, University of California Press.

A Taxonomic Guide to Some Common Marine Phytoplankton
By Rita A. Horner

Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification
By John D. Wehr, Robert G. Sheath, and James H. Thorp

Plankton Photographs:

The images were captured using a Zeiss Axio lmager Compound Microscope with digital Axiocam camera and a variety of illumination schemes. Images were acquired using Phase Contrast, Differential Interference Contrast, and Epi-fluorescent microscopy. Each method reveals different information about the cell’s morphology. The fluorescence of chlorophyll tells us that the cells are autotrophic (capable of photosynthesis). Use of a fluorescent DNA stain reveals the characteristics of the nucleus.