Marine Biology (2+1)

Methods of estimating nanoplankton biomass

The direct estimates of phytoplankton cell density as measures of standing crop are usually made by this method. Though enumeration method is advantageous especially during the periods of bloom formations, it is not suitable for all occasions as the phytoplankton species vary greately in size nano and net phytoplankton is done by various counting chambers as described below:

Kolkwitz’s chamber. It is a hollowed out plexiglass (Perspex) flat chamber having a capacity of 0.5 ml. It is suitable for use in an ordinary microscope with provision for its positioning or in an Utermohl’s inverted microscope.

The Kolkwitz’s chamber is commonly used for water samples where the standing crop of phytoplankton is rich.