What is it about?
The viability of algal cells is one of the most fundamental issues in marine ecological research. In this work, a method was designed to identify algal cell viability based on digital holography and deep learning, which divided algal cells into three categories: active, weak, and dead cells. This method was applied to measure algal cells in surface waters of the East China Sea in spring, revealing about 4.34 %–23.29 % weak cells and 3.98 %–19.47 % dead cells. Levels of nitrate and chlorophyll a were the main factors affecting the viability of algal cells. Furthermore, algal viability changes during the heating and cooling were observed in laboratory experiments: high temperatures led to an increase in weak algal cells. This may provide an explanation for why most harmful algal blooms occur in warming months.
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Why is it important?
This study provided a novel insight into how to identify the viability of algal cells and understand their significance in the ocean.
Perspectives
Based on viability, we divided algal cells into active, weak, and dead cells. Algal viability changes during the heating and cooling were observed in laboratory experiments. We found that high temperatures led to an increase in weak algal cells. This may provide an explanation for why most harmful algal blooms occur in warming months.
Dr Wei-Dong Zhai
Shandong University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Algal cell viability assessment: The role of environmental factors in phytoplankton population dynamics, Marine Pollution Bulletin, April 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114743.
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