MTS Member Webinar - FlowCam for Phytoplankton Monitoring: Detection & Tracking of Harmful Algal Blooms

Chile is the world’s second-largest producer of farmed salmon, where phytoplankton monitoring is essential for managing aquaculture sites, especially during harmful algal bloom (HAB) events. In this webinar, marine biologist Alejandro Clement, founder of Plancton Andino, will discuss how his team uses FlowCam imaging technology to enhance phytoplankton monitoring in the fjords and channels of Chilean Patagonia. By combining high-resolution imaging, assisted taxonomic classification, and automated quantification, FlowCam enables faster and more efficient analysis of phytoplankton samples.

These capabilities:

• Support improved detection and tracking of harmful species like Alexandrium catenella and Heterosigma akashiwo
• Aid operational decisions, support mitigation efforts
• Broaden applications in microparticle analysis and technology assessment, such as artificial upwelling and nano-/microbubble systems

Learning Objectives:

• Why HABs are a major challenge for salmon aquaculture
• The role of phytoplankton monitoring in HAB detection and management
• How FlowCam supports marine phytoplankton analysis, with an emphasis on HAB monitoring.

Audience: Students, researchers, and environmental professionals interested in phytoplankton monitoring with a particular focus on HABs