Santa Cruz Wharf
The current phytoplankton monitoring program in Santa Cruz has existed since 2006. Originally funded by Cal-PReEMPT and CeNCOOS, weekly sampling includes phytoplankton identification, phycotoxin testing, and nutrient analysis.
Monterey Wharf II
Sampling at the Monterey Wharf began in 2003 with funding from NSF in an effort to develop molecular tools to understand bloom dynamics of Pseudo-nitzschia. It continues today with funding from CeNCOOS.
Both locations are part of the statewide harmful algal bloom (HAB) network, Cal-HABMAP.
Disclaimer
We are providing this weekly report as a service to interested readers. Our goal is to deliver a near-real time description of the phytoplankton community assemblage. Thus, species observations are made rapidly using a relatively low power stereomicroscope. We have not exhaustively verified species descriptions and occasionally a description may be in error. Comments and feedback are encouraged.