Pringsheim's living legacy: CAUP, CCALA, CCAP, SAG & UTEX.

The major service culture collections of algae form the "backbone" of the curatorial and service roles for the phycological community as a whole. Four of the largest culture collections, Culture Collection of Algae at the Laboratory of Algology (CCALA) in the Czech Republic, Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) in the UK, Culture Collection of Algae at Gottingen University (SAG) in Germany, and Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin (UTEX) in the USA can all trace their origins back to the pioneering work of Prof. E.G. Pringsheim. His work and the inspiration he provided to others have ensured that these collections continue to develop to fulfill the requirements of current and future generations of phycologists. This article discusses the historical developments, synergies, and ongoing contributions of these four algal collections.