Size group (pico, nano, micro) and group total carbon estimates from cell counts via epifluorescent microscopy (EPI) of heterotrophic and autotrophic plankton from CCE-CalCOFI Augmented cruises in the California Current System, 2004 - 2011 (ongoing).

Microbial community assemblages of the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) are assessed for biomass of heterotrophic (dinoflagellate and other eukaryotes) and autotrophic (dinoflagellate and other eukaryotes) plankton using high-throughput digital epifluorescence microscopy (EPI). Samples to estimate the nano- and microplankton (0.2-2.0-µm and 2.0-20-µm size, respectively) are collected at various depths via Niskin bottles, preserved, stained, and filtered onto a membrane filter and mounted on a glass microscope slide aboard the quarterly CalCOFI survey cruises (since 2004, ongoing). Slides are then frozen at -80°C for subsequent imaging and analysis in the laboratory onshore. Carbon biomass is computed from cell biovolumes.