Development of Automated Methods for the Enumeration and Classification of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton Samples
Abstract
During standardized testing at the Ballast Water Treatment Test Facility located at the Naval Research Laboratory in Key West, significant time is spent characterizing zooplankton and phytoplankton samples to both ensure that the challenge water used to evaluate Ballast Water Treatment Equipment is consistent with the test standards and to determine the efficacy of treatment by the equipment. The objective of this effort was to develop and demonstrate methods for the automated assessment of ballast water including detection, classification and enumeration, and viability assessments of zooplankton and phytoplankton samples. The methods that were demonstrated, developed, and described in this report have the potential to reduce the time required to analyze samples by at least one order of magnitude. These methods additionally produce digital image and video outputs that create a complete archive of the analyses that were performed to enumerate and determine the viability of zooplankton and phytoplankton samples. The systems explored and developed under this effort include an in-house developed microscope imaging system that uses image processing and classification algorithms to analyze zooplankton samples, and a commercial imaging flow cytometer system that has been modified and used in conjunction with cell impermeant DNA staining dyes for analyzing phytoplankton samples.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- AD1210558
Entities
People
- B N Nelson
- E. J. Lemieux
- S. Riley
- S. Robbins
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory