Estero Bay AP Partners with Florida Gulf Coast University to Process Algae Samples

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve (EBAP) staff have been hard at work processing the macroalgae samples collected as a part of February seagrass monitoring. Drift algae abundance is assessed in every monitored seagrass quadrat. In 2016, EBAP began collecting drift algae samples at a subset of repeat quadrat locations. These samples give EBAP important information on species composition, seasonal changes in drift algae biomass and trends over time. After algae is collected in the field, samples are preserved for later identification and biomass determination. At the beginning of this month, the algae samples were transported to Florida Gulf Coast University to process in their lab as a part of EBAP’s partnership with their Water School. In the lab, the algae in each bag are sorted and identified by species. Taxonomic guides are used to help identify the species, and afterwards, each species is placed in a foil envelope and weighed. After wet weight is obtained, the envelopes are placed in a drying oven. Once the samples are dried, a final dry weight will be obtained and used to estimate total biomass.