‘Virtual taxonomist’ in training to identify toxic algal blooms

Description

A hi-tech underwater device that scans water samples for potentially dangerous algae blooms – the first of its type to be deployed in UK waters – has been operational for over a year at a Scottish Sea Farms site in Shetland.

The Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) uses a combination of lasers and cameras to detect and photograph microscopic, single-celled phytoplankton in the water, before uploading data for specialist analysis, detection and monitoring.