FlowCAM imaging flow cytometer for eco-evolutionary plankton research

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Aquatic ecosystems provide to Canadians beneficial goods and services such as clean drinking water, commercial fisheries, recreational opportunities and cultural values. However, stressors such as climate change, increased nutrient loads and pollution can compromise the success of organisms and, ultimately, the functioning of whole aquatic ecosystems. We are requesting a FlowCAM imaging flow cytometer that will allow us to perform experiments to find out how natural plankton communities in freshwater respond to multiple common stressors and to what degree evolutionary processes contribute to the communities' rescue when facing stressors. Another goal is to develop technology that will allow us to synthesize communities that function in stressed environments. Such species assemblages could serve as “starter communities” to restore the living component of disturbed ecosystems.