With faciliites in both Maryland and Massachusetts, the fir'sproncipal is identified as working with personnel from the Universityof Alabama Dauphin Island Sea Lab to develop and test a laser-induced fluorescence sensor that will identify the taxonomic structure of an assemblage at about the class level. Ths effort is designed to improve bio-optical productivity models by introducing taxonomic structure as a model input term. The instrument might also be used for water-quality monitoring, for instance in real-time pre-screening of water samples during harmful algal blooms (HABs) to identify those most likely to contain the potentially-toxic species. These would then be prioritized for testing, using the appropriate microscopic or molecular techniques, allowing more efficient use of human and laboratory resources. Firm is also funded bythe Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET). 4 to develop a tool for improved detection of microalgae
