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Welcome to Planktonlab analysis...research...consulting
Planktonlab is a research laboratory and consulting business specializing in plankton identification and enumeration.
We are committed to providing our clients with solutions to their needs.
We hope you find what you are looking for in our site. If not, please feel welcome to contact us.
Professional Services at Planktonlab research & consultancy
An inverted microscope is use to identify and enumerate phytoplankton (diatoms, dinoflagellates, flagellates), micro- zooplankton (naked ciliates and tintinnids) and all types of plankton in marine, brackish and estuarine waters. Planktonnet lab is headed by Fernando Gómez. Fernando’s Ph.D. thesis research dealt with taxonomy of marine phytoplankton “Diversity and biogeography of marine dinoflagellates. Notes on the taxonomy of less known groups”.
Fernando has 10 years of expertise in taxonomy and ecology of marine and estuarine microplankton, and biomonitoring and interpretation of physical, chemical and biological data in Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific waters. He has published extensively in the area of microplankton ecology and taxonomy.
We are committed to providing our clients with solutions to their needs. We
will always identify specimens to the "lowest practical level"
consistent with customer requests.
Analyses (identification and enumeration) are performed using the traditional Utermöhl settling technique and an inverted microscope. Identifications are performed at magnifications ranging between 100× and 600×.
Counting units are individual cells, filaments or colonies depending on the organism. A minimum of 400-500 units (usually at multiple magnifications) from randomly selected transects are counted for each sample; counting at multiple magnifications allows us to correctly enumerate taxa present that may vary by several orders of magnitude in size. In cases where a sample has extremely few plankton units (thus yielding less than 400 units) the entire chamber is counted.
Reports are delivered in electronic form in Microsoft Excel or as hard copy, but can also be provided in formats tailored to meet client’s special needs.
Prices are given per unit sample. Sample analyses involve routine identification and calculations of density (units l-1) for each taxon. Identication to the "lowest practical level" and counting of the whole plankton community*:
<10 samples: € 20 EURO per unit
10-100 samples: € 15 EURO per unit
>100 samples: Volume discounts are available
Detection and counting of single or several target taxa (i.e., toxic species)*:
<10 samples: € 15 EURO per unit
10-100 samples: € 10 EURO per unit
>100 samples: Volume discounts are available
*Additional fee per sample is charged for net tow, filtered or pre-concentrated samples.
Storage and Retention: Samples will be stored and retained by Planktonlab for a period of 30 days from the date of submission of
reports. At the end of this retention period, samples will be disposed off, if no prior instructions to the contrary are received from the
client. There is a charge for the return shipment of boxes or coolers sent to
Planktolab. If you do not want your boxes to be returned to you and to avoid the return shipment
charge, please advise Planktonlab accordingly.
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