Studies of algae include several steps - from their collection in the field, through sample laboratory processing, viewing algal cell with microscopes for species identification, molecular analysis, and the final publishing of results. Below, you will see the process step-by-step. We approach the phytoplankton algae from standing waters (e.g. lakes and ponds) slightly differently than the bottom algae from running waters (e.g. streams and rivers) and examples from both types of freshwater habitats are available in the section named Projects.
We start with the most fun work, which is going out in the field and collecting algal samples. We use different tools and instruments to measure the quality of water in which they live. We also take note of the health of the surrounding aquatic and land vegetation, and other aquatic organisms, such as fish, frogs, snails, mussels, and insects.
We place the collected algal samples in labeled tubes or whirl-pack bags and deliver them to the lab in a cooler on ice. We keep some of the samples fresh for algal isolation in culture, but some of the samples are fixed with Lugol’s iodine solution for further species identification. Then, in the lab we prepare the samples for microscopic observation.
Observing algae with a light microscope is always fun! They are unassumingly beautiful and come in variable sizes, shapes, and colors – green, blue-green, red, golden, and brown, and many are motile - swimming using flagella or gliding and sliding along. We use their morphological appearance to identify the species and to learn more about their biology.
Sometimes we use an electron microscope to view algae under a higher magnification and see the ultrastructure of the algal cells. These powerful microscopes apply a beam of electrons as a source of illumination instead of light and can easily visualize the finely perforated and ornamented silica walls of diatoms and the intracellular organelles in cyanobacteria and other algae.
Growing algae in-vitro under lab conditions is part of student studies. This is a microbiological process, which requires sterile conditions and a lot of time for algal growth. Algal cultures contain a single species and therefore are valuable for molecular studies and lab experiments to test hypotheses about algal biology, physiology, and ecological preferences.
Molecular analysis of algae is a fun and influential method that answers questions that cannot be addressed by the techniques described above. We isolate DNA or RNA from unialgal cultures to compare them genetically with other species, to identify them and to learn about their biology and physiology.
Scientific communication and data presentation are important parts of our work and student training. NSF REU undergraduate summer student researchers present posters with results from their molecular analyses of algae collected from Escondido Creek during the final summer showcase.
We make the results of our studies available to other scientists and the community by publishing them in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Many of the journals are open-access so that everybody can read the articles. Publishing is an integral part of our work because it also identifies areas where further studies are needed.