Cell counts (per liter) by size groups of diatoms, autotrophic and heterotrophic plankton, via epifluorescent microscopy (EPI) 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 abundance of diatoms, autotrophic (dinoflagellate and other eukaryotes) and heterotrophic (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.